The 2025/26 Sport Saloons Cup roared into life at Euromarque Motorsport Park (Ruapuna) today, with changeable weather and a record 36-car grid serving up plenty of action in the opening two races of the season.
Qualifying was anything but straightforward, as heavy hail and rain arrived just five minutes before the session began.
The sudden downpour forced frantic tyre changes across the pit lane, and conditions led to two red flags, one for Warren Walker mowing the inside field, and another for Brenda Wilson after finding the gravel at Turn 11.
Despite the chaos, standout performers included Ross Jones in his turbocharged Mazda Axela and Tim Leonard, who impressed in his newly acquired Nissan Pulsar to qualify 9th out of 34 starters.
When the skies cleared for Race 1 (Scratch Race), Jones delivered a dominant lights-to-flag drive, controlling the race even after an early safety car period. Behind him, Dave McLean, Peter Sutherland, and Steve Parker jostled for the minor placings.
B Class was taken by Josh Mitchell in his Subaru, ahead of Lynden Prebble (Honda Civic) and Jacob Cunniffe (Mazda RX-8).
C Class honours went to Tim Leonard, followed by Chris McLeod (Honda Integra) and Graeme Alloo (VW Golf).
The always-popular Race 2 Reverse Grid Handicap produced another thriller. Tim Yellowlees led the C Class field away before Mitchell launched his Subaru off the line 25 seconds later, with A Class joining the fray soon after.
Leonard again showed race craft beyond his years, holding off a charging Mitchell by just 2.3 seconds at the flag, with Alloo completing the podium in third.
Mechanical dramas struck Jones, whose wastegate failure robbed him of a chance to challenge for another win, while Peter Swaney set the fastest lap of the race (1:35.868) before traffic confined him to 12th. The battle of the B Class saw Mitchell, Jason Kelly, and Carmen Liemburg trading positions lap after lap, showcasing the depth of the category.
The Sport Saloons Cup’s tenth season continued in fine style on Sunday, with two more action-packed races rounding out a record-breaking opening weekend.
Race 3 – Reverse Grid (within class scratch race)
A 31-car grid lined up for Sunday’s opener, with A Class leading the way. Walker made the best launch, leading the field into Turn 1 and looking in control of the race, until an unscheduled spin through the esses forced him out with cooling issues.
Matt Ryan then inherited the lead and held it for four laps before McLean and Peter Sutherland turned up the pace. Banking slick 1:35s, McLean moved to the front on lap five and never looked back, with Sutherland slipping through to second on the final lap.
Jones battled mechanical gremlins in his Mazda Axela but still managed the outright fastest time of the race, a rapid 1:34.975.
In B Class, Mitchell once again proved the benchmark in his Subaru, ahead of Liemburg’s VQ35-powered MX-5 and Kelly in the immaculate Datsun 260Z. Wilson looked strong in her RX-8 before spark plug and fuel issues dropped her down the order.
B Class also welcomed a host of newcomers, Prebble, Cunniffe, Logan Anderson, Brad Rae, Chris Macleod, and Oscar Tatom — all impressing with tidy drives and competitive lap times.
C Class produced another fierce contest, with the NZ6 contingent fighting amongst themselves while chasing down reigning class champion Tim Leonard. Alloo kept the pressure on, glued to Leonard’s rear bumper throughout.
Race 4 – Reverse Grid Handicap
The final race of the weekend saw the always-entertaining handicap format deliver another classic. Alloo led the C Class charge off the line before Mitchell blasted through the B Class field 25 seconds later to begin the hunt.
A further 15 seconds on, the A Class lights released Parker in his turbocharged Toyota 86, who carved his way through traffic at pace.
The final two laps turned into a thriller, with Mitchell and Kelly running clear of the pack while Parker closed fast. At the line, it was Mitchell who prevailed, holding off Kelly by just 0.071 seconds, with Parker a close third, only two seconds adrift.
Alloo took first home in C Class, finishing ahead of Leonard and Mick Ross in another strong NZ6 showing.
Weekend Class Honours
- A Class: Dave McLean
- B Class: Josh Mitchell
- C Class: Tim Leonard
The season-opening round confirmed the strength of the SS Cup’s unique time-bracketed format, which ensures close racing across the board. With five more rounds to come, the fight for overall, class, and handicap honours looks set to deliver another thrilling year.
Header Image: Euan Cameron
