It seems like quite a while since the Nexen Tyre NZ Mazda Racing Series last appeared in the South Island but it is back with a vengeance this Saturday when the first round of the South Island Championship takes place at Levels Raceway in Timaru.
An enthralling contest is in prospect. The field for the opening round is a small one due to five potential entrants all being unable to compete at this round for various reasons, but the quality of the drivers on the grid will make for some fantastic racing.
Chris White Junior, of Prebbleton in Canterbury, made his motor racing debut at this meeting last year, setting the series alight when he took pole position. Since that day, he has gone on to win last year’s South Island Championship and finish runner-up in the National Championship. This year the sixteen-year-old is contesting both the North and South Island Championships and already leads the North Island Series after the first round.
Making his series debut and sure to be a real threat this Saturday is seventeen-year-old Timaru driver Will Kitching. Kitching has already fashioned an outstanding record in a short time in motorsport.
He was the 2022/2023 Pro 8 South Island Championship, adding the Rookie Of The Year title as well as taking the Fastest Lap Trophy at four of the five rounds. Other successes include becoming the South Island SS Cup Class A & Overall Champion, the New Zealand 3 Hour Endurance Series Class 5 Champion and runner-up in the South Island 3 Hour Endurance Series Class 5 Championship. In addition, he was a recipient of the Winmax Junior Driver Programme run by the Paddon Racing Group.
While the battle between these two young guns is highly anticipated, there are several others in the field with excellent credentials. Matt Dodd of Christchurch was the runner-up in last year’s South Island Championship and has been quick in testing, while Rangiora driver Dalan Price, third in the 2021/2022 South Island Championship, is having a serious tilt at this year’s title.
Add in Andrew Finch from the BMW E30 Series and Ken Thompson of Dunedin in his Series 1 car in the Historic Class, and you have a small but classy turnout for the opening round.
The cars will have four 20-minute practice sessions available to them on Friday before qualifying and three races on Saturday.
After this round, the series returns to Timaru for Round 2 in the New Year over the weekend of 26-28 January 2024, an event that doubles as a National Championship round and already a number of North Island drivers have committed to travel south for the round.
Words & Images: Supplied
