Timaru’s Corban Sprague has continued his top form into the third round of the 2025/26 Mazda Pro8 New Zealand series at Teretonga Park in Invercargill over the weekend.
The teenager claimed pole position in qualifying and then went on to win three races, extending his lead on the points table. Also on the top step of the podium was Hamish Evans, winning Race 3 and picking up the Star of the Round Award for finishing second for the round.
“Super pleased how the round went,” said Sprague.
“We have come away with a round win and have extended our championship lead after a reasonably trouble-free weekend.”
While Sprague has been consistently at the top of the result sheets across the season, so have his competitors, with Hamish Evans, Jared Pyke, Jeremy Dawson, and Ryan Gallagher all standing on the podium several times over the weekend.
The difference is that he has gained more points by winning more races and has now increased his overall lead to 108 points ahead of Pyke, with Evans in third and Kaleb Pateman in fourth, having moved up from seventh overall. Leading rookie Ryan Gallagher holds on to fifth.
“The level of competition has certainly lifted this season, and it hasn’t been straightforward at all,” said Sprague.
“Teretonga is an old-school high-commitment track where you need to carry a lot of momentum.”
On Saturday morning, Sprague qualified on pole ahead of Gallagher, Pyke, and local Jeremy Dawson.
“I got a decent start for Race 1and led into Turn 1 and then created a bit of a gap and held on for the win.”
Dawson emerged in second ahead of Gallagher, Evans, and last season’s champion, Jared Pyke.
“I was able to put down a PB (personal best) in qualifying and grabbed P3, which shows just how quickly this class is evolving,” said Pyke.
“The first race was a massive scrap for P2 from start to finish, but with a small mistake on the final lap, I finished in fifth.”
In the Marble Draw Race 2, Sprague took the win after starting from grid 4. The second home was Pyke, followed by Evans, Jeremy Skeggs, and 15-year-old Oakley West.
The Reverse Marble Draw Race 3 saw a red flag on the opening lap and a full-grid restart. Evans took the win ahead of Dawson, Pyke, Sprague, and Pateman.
The final 8-lap Race 4, with the grid determined by accumulated points from the preceding three races, saw Sprague and Evans side by side into Turn 1 on the opening lap.
Sprague emerged in the lead. After several laps behind a Safety Car, it was a sprint to the end with Sprague picking up his third win ahead of Pyke, Evans, West, Skeggs, and Pateman.
West was awarded the Rookie of the Round for his consistent performances, which have seen him move up the leaderboard from 11th to eighth.
Heading to the penultimate round at the ever-popular Super Truck meeting in Timaru at the end of January, Sprague is not getting carried away.
“I’m not worrying about the championship, rather taking it round by round,” said Sprague.
“There have been plenty of positives from the weekend and plenty to build on.”
Third for the round and second overall, Pyke is not giving up on the title fight, saying, “I’m really happy with the consistency we’re showing and the pace to stay right in the fight at the front.”
Mazda Pro 8 New Zealand Points after 3/5 rounds:
- Corban Sprague 1674
- Jared Pyke 1166
- Hamish Evans 1515
- Kaleb Pateman 1182
- Ryan Gallagher 1158
- Jeremy Dawson 1065
- Lincoln Brunton 1002
- Oakley West 990
- Sam Knight 924
- Ben Mcconochie 846
- Luke Casey 834
- Bradley Dawson 741
- James Smith 441
- Ash Mcconchie 414
- Michael Court 345
- Ben Tiplady 318
- Tom Young 129
Race 1: (8-laps)
- Corban Sprague
- Jeremy Dawson
- Ryan Gallagher
- Hamish Evans
- Jared Pyke
- Sam Knight
- Kaleb Pateman
- Jeremy Skeggs
- Oakley West
- Lincoln Brunton
- Luke Casey
Race 2: (8-lap Marble Draw)
- Corban Sprague
- Jared Pyke
- Hamish Evans
- Jeremy Skeggs
- Oakley West
- Ryan Gallagher
- Kaleb Pateman
- Luke Casey
- Lincoln Brunton
- DNF Jeremy Dawson
- DNF Sam Knight
Race 3: (8-lap Reverse Marble Draw)
- Hamish Evans
- Jeremy Dawson
- Jared Pyke
- Corban Sprague
- Kaleb Pateman
- Jeremy Skeggs
- Oakley West
- Luke Casey
- Lincoln Brunton
- DNS Ryan Gallagher
- DNS Sam Knight
Race 4: (8-laps)
- Corban Sprague
- Jared Pyke
- Hamish Evans
- Oakley West
- Jeremy Skeggs
- Kaleb Pateman
- Luke Casey
- Ryan Gallagher
- Lincoln Brunton
- Jeremy Dawson
- DNS Sam Knight
Header Image: Dave Loudon
