The 2023/24 Production Race Series calendar has been released but comes with a twist: This year’s competition will expand to feature Grasskhana, hill climbs and drag racing.
“Having a race car in the garage and only being able to use it four or five times a year at the same track isn’t what we envision many people want to do, so let’s give them a chance to use it at a reduced fee at other events,” series founder Martyn Wells told Velocity News.
“We wanted to think outside of the box and do more than just what everyone else seems to do, and as Grasskhanas, hill climbs and drag racing are areas not often visited by circuit racers, we’ve decided to give people to opportunity to venture into this unknown area within a known environment by having our Production Race Series feel about it.”
The grassroots racing competition has grown exponentially over the past few years, with the three classes competing often broken into separate races, given the size of the grids. Races range from traditional standing starts to handicap racing and reverse grids.
“Grassroots racing is the key to motorsport within New Zealand,” says Wells. “It’s vital that we keep it accessible to everyone while ensuring that it’s done safely, and the Production Race Series does this with its openness to people of all levels and a great lineup of sponsors to help people get out on track.
“With all the changes within the Auckland region motorsport scene given Pukekohe’s closure, it’s important we keep the sport accessible for everyone.”
“Last season was huge,” he continues. “We filled grids at almost every event and had fantastic support along the way, but the core values remained. We are grassroots and the little guy, but you should see what a show we can put on.
“At the last ever race meeting at Pukekohe, the Flying Farewell, several spectators came over and said that the best class to watch was the Production Race Series. The differences in the cars and the close racing up and down the grid stood out for them. This speaks volumes when we are racing at an event with some of NZ’s biggest race classes.
Any car that meets the safety standards set by Motorsport New Zealand is eligible to compete. Examples of vehicles that have competed in past include muscle cars, V8 Utes, Muscle Cars and V8 touring cars, right through to Honda Civics, Toyota Camrys and Daihatsu Charades.
The 2023/24 season kicks off at the Auckland Car Club event at Hampton Downs on September 2, followed by a return to the same venue on October 28 before a trip to Taupo (November 26) concludes the 2023 circuit racing calendar.
The inaugural Grasskhana is set to take place on December 2 to conclude the competition for the year.
A trip to Manfeild on February 24-25 brings in the new year and is followed by two more rounds at Hampton Downs (April 7 & an unannounced May date), the last of which is an endurance round.
Wells says the drag racing and hill climb details are still being finalised and will be announced shortly to make for a nine-round competition, with six of those being on the circuit.
2023/24 Production Race Series Calendar
| Rd 1 | September 2 | Hampton Downs |
| Rd 2 | September 2 | Hampton Downs |
| Rd 3 | October 28 | Taupo |
| Rd 4 | November 26 | Grasskhana (Pukekohe) |
| Rd 5 | February 24-25 | Manfeild |
| Rd 6 | December 2 | Hampton Downs |
| Rd 7 | May | Hampton Downs (Enduro) |
| Rd 8 | TBC | Hill Climb |
| Rd 9 | TBC | Drag Race |
Header Image: Omegah Photography (Glen McNamara)
