The summer of motorsport has already begun for the Mazda Pro8 New Zealand Championship, which started its campaign with an impressive 18-car lineup at Ruapuna in October.
Three different winners across four races set the tone for an exciting season ahead, with reigning champion Jared Pyke taking the early advantage, having won one race and finished on the podium in the other three.
Keeping the pressure on Pyke is series newcomer Hamish Evans, whose stunning debut weekend came with two race wins and an additional podium to fall into second place in the standings.
Consistency was key for Kris Mackie, who took two podiums and finished in the top five of all four 8-lap races to slot into third in the championship as the top veteran.
The five-round 2024/25 season sees the series feature at all four South Island tracks before returning to Ruapuna for the season finale on March 22-23.
A number of familiar faces have returned to the series for the summer, with Mackie and Pyke joined by Ash McConchie, Ben McConochie, Greg Wilson, Simon Wheeler, Jeremy Skeggs, Tom Young, Brenda Wilson and Michael Court.
Corban Sprague has also returned and recovered from a DNF in Race 1 at Ruapuna to win Race 2 and remain in the early-season mix.
Brothers Bradley and Jeremy Dawson are battling for family honours, with the former holding a slender 15-point advantage to sit fifth, behind Cory Stewart, after Round 1.
Joining Evans in the battle for rookie honours is Sam Knight, Kaleb Pateman and Lincoln Brunton.
For the 2024/25 season, the Mazda Pro8 Series has welcomed Kumho Tyres as the series sponsor and tyre supplier.
“That’s right, we are back on slicks!” said a series representative.
“Being on slicks is where the series began, and we believe this now sets us apart from other race classes in a true one-make saloon on a slick tyre.
“No ABS or traction control will allow raw driver ability to shine.”
The season also sees a continuation of the Trans-Tasman partnership between the Mazda Pro8 New Zealand Championship and Australia’s RX8 Cup.
As a prize for winning the 2023/24 title, Pyke joined the RX8 Cup for their round at Sydney Motorsport Park in September.
The partnership has also seen McConchie, Mackie and Jarrod Parmenter run an RX8 Cup entry in the 2023 Bathurst 6-Hour, while Ric Shaw and Tom Shaw attended the Highlands Motorsport Park round of the Pro8 Series later that season.
2024/25 Mazda Pro8 New Zealand Championship Calendar
| October 12-13 | Ruapuna |
| December 7-8 | Teretonga Park |
| January 25-26 | Levels Raceway (Thunder Downunder) |
| March 1 | Highlands Motorsport Park |
| March 22-23 | Ruapuna |
