The Sport Saloons Cup heads to Levels Raceway in Timaru this weekend, 31 October to 1 November, with a 32-car field ready for Round 2 of the 2026/27 championship. With the championship leader sidelined and several familiar faces returning to the grid, this weekend offers plenty to look forward to.
After an action-packed opening round at Ruapuna, where four races produced four different winners, the SS Cup returns to Levels with plenty of momentum and developing rivalries across all three classes.
For those who missed the season opener, Ruapuna delivered a weekend of contrasting conditions, close finishes and plenty of drama. From Josh Mitchell’s last-lap wet-weather win to Ross Jones charging through the field in the final handicap race, there was no shortage of action.
A full recap of Round 1 is available in our previous Velocity News race report.
One notable absentee is defending champion Dave McLean, whose Honda Integra remains sidelined by a mechanical issue that couldn’t be fixed in time for the weekend.
His absence leaves Warren Walker as the highest-placed championship contender on the grid, sitting second overall on 166 points. Logan Anderson follows on 161, with Ben Gormack and Kyle Barringer sharing fourth on 160, keeping the early standings tightly contested.
While one familiar name will be missing, several others are preparing to make their first appearance of the season. Peter Sutherland returns after engine troubles kept him out at Ruapuna, while Richard Simpson and Oscar Tatom are also back on the entry list after missing the opening round.
Another welcome return comes from Dale Smart, who rejoins the SS Cup grid for the first time in two seasons. Adding further interest is Chris O’Driscoll, representing series naming sponsor 24 Red Racing. Having supported the championship from behind the scenes, O’Driscoll will now be joining the competitors on track.
The returning drivers add another dimension to an already competitive field, particularly with several of the opening round’s leading contenders looking to build on their early performances.
Josh Mitchell arrives at Levels having demonstrated impressive pace at Ruapuna. The Subaru driver led much of the opening scratch race before tyre troubles cost him the win, but bounced back in Sunday’s wet conditions with a calculated last-lap pass on Logan Anderson to take Race 3.
Ross Jones was another standout in the wet, charging through the field in his Mazda Axela to win the final handicap race, while James Mitchell made his mark with an overall victory in Race 2.
Ben Gormack was another standout at Ruapuna, taking two overall podiums in difficult Sunday conditions and establishing himself among the early overall championship contenders.
Class B promises another closely fought weekend. James Mitchell leads the class championship after a strong opening round, with Riley Price and Allan Garnett among those looking to challenge.
Garnett, last season’s Class C champion, has already shown he can compete after moving up to Class B.
In Class C, Cory Jamieson and Ben Van Heeswyck arrive tied at the top of the standings after sharing the honours at the season opener. Their developing rivalry should keep fans interested as the championship moves to Levels.
The Timaru circuit presents a different challenge from Ruapuna. Its tighter layout rewards precision and consistency, while the SS Cup’s time-bracket regulations mean competitors must balance outright pace against the risk of breaking out of their nominated class.
Four eight-lap races are scheduled over the weekend, starting with a rolling-start scratch race before reverse-grid and handicap formats shake up the order.
The Joker option adds another strategic element, letting eligible competitors nominate a round in which their championship points double. With six rounds making up the season, choosing when to play that card could prove crucial as the championship develops.
After a season opener featuring close finishes, changing weather, mechanical dramas and four different race winners, the SS Cup arrives at Levels with plenty of reasons to expect more of the same.
With returning competitors eager to make their mark, established contenders looking to build momentum and 32 cars ready to take on the South Canterbury circuit, Round 2 promises another exciting weekend of Sport Saloons Cup racing.
Header Photo: Euan Cameron
