The third race meeting of the 2025-26 season at Baypark Speedway continues to bring a rotation of classes and a variety of action to the high-speed clay oval at Mt Maunganui.
Saturday night’s Bays of Thunder event sees both the Stock Cars and F2 Midgets making their first race appearance of the season, with the anticipation resulting in strong fields in both classes.
The Stock Car field is a capacity 32 entries for the first hit-out of the season, with drivers making the journey from the Gisborne, Auckland, Rotorua, Kihikihi, Hawke’s Bay, and Wanganui tracks to challenge the Baypark regulars.
There are 20 F2 Midgets entered, including James Earl and Dion Kendall – the winner and runner-up at last season’s unofficial Aotearoa NZ F2 title event raced at Baypark, and with no Midget Car racing on the programme, Tauranga’s Luke McClymont is taking the chance to sample the F2 category in a BSL Racing entry.
Baypark’s refreshed track surface has produced fast lap times and earned praise from drivers this season, while delivering top-quality Sprint Car competition at the first two meetings.
The winged warrior action continues this week with a new feature winner being assured because early-season pace-setter Daniel Thomas (Hamilton) will be absent while he prepares for a South Island campaign in early December.
The early-season podium finishers have been HLR Racing teammates Ryan O’Connor and Hayden Williams, along with Rodney Wood and Keaton Dahm, in a closely matched Sprint Car line-up.
California racer Jonathan Allard will be looking for some improved fortunes to convert the pace he’s shown at both meetings into feature race success.
There’s another full grid of Youth Mini Stocks making their second outing of the season, with visiting drivers from Hawke’s Bay, Gisborne, Auckland, Rotorua, Huntly and Kihikihi joining the action.
Header Image: Jessica Barnes / Blissful Photography
