The 2026 North Island Endurance Series roars into life next month, with Round 1 set to take place at Taupō International Motorsport Park on May 9.
Organised by the North Island Endurance Racing Drivers Club (NIERDC), the opening round will mark the first of three North Island events that form part of both the regional series and the New Zealand Endurance Championship.
Competitors will tackle Taupō’s 3.32km Circuit 1 layout in an anti-clockwise direction, with a full field of up to 50 saloons, GT3, etc expected to take the start.
The event will feature two headline races, with teams contesting both a one-hour endurance race and the premier 500km race — the latter running to either the full distance or a four-hour time limit, whichever comes first.
Round 1 also serves as the opening points-paying event for the 2026 New Zealand 1-hour and 500km Endurance Championship, which spans six rounds across both the North and South Islands. Taupō will be followed by Hampton Downs and Manfeild in the North Island leg before the championship heads south later in the year.
Competitors competing in the official NZ Endurance Championship must race in a minimum of one round on each Island.
The North Island series itself comprises three rounds, with strong competition expected across multiple classes, including GT, Class 1 through to Class 5 machinery. A wide range of vehicles are eligible, from FIA GT3 and GT4 cars to Porsche Cup machines, V8 Supercars, MARC cars and a variety of production-based endurance racers.
In a new initiative, Class 3 to 5 competitors can enter the 500 Kilometre race for an entry fee of just $1,000 plus GST, which also includes half of a 2-car garage. “This is an ideal opportunity for three good mates to club together in a race for class victory”, said Club President Mark Petch.
Entries for the Taupō opener close on May 1, with late entries accepted at the organisers’ discretion. Competitors also have the option of an open-pit-lane test day on Friday prior to the race meeting, giving teams valuable track time ahead of the weekend’s action.
Drivers must hold at least a MotorSport New Zealand C1 Grade competition licence, with teams comprising two or three drivers who share driving duties in the endurance format.
The championship structure rewards consistency throughout the season, with overall and class honours up for grabs, as well as the Am-Am title for non-elite driver pairings.
With a diverse field, multi-class racing and the added challenge of endurance strategy, the Taupō opener is set to deliver an exciting start to the 2026 endurance racing season in New Zealand.
Click here to access the 2026 1 Hour Endurance NIERDC/SIERDC NZ Championship Accredited Sporting and Technical Regulations
Click here to access the 2026 NIERDC Supplementary Regulations for Taupo Part 1
Click here to access the 2026 3 Hour 500km Endurance NIERDC/SIERDC NZ Championship Accredited Sporting and Technical Regulations
2026 North Island Endurance Calendar:
- Round 1: 8–9 May 2026 – Taupo International Motorsport Park
- Round 2: 22–23 May 2026 – Hampton Downs Motorsport Park
- Round 3: 12–13 June 2026 – Manfeild Circuit Chris Amon
Header Image: Jessica Barnes/Blissful Photography
