The 2025 Taupo Historic GP is well underway, with Saturday’s action highlighting some incredible machines of yesteryear, as well as some unique and rare vehicles seldom seen in New Zealand.
Photographer Neville Bailey was on the ground in Taupo and shares some of his work with us below.
The ‘greatest-ever gathering of Formula Atlantics’ didn’t disappoint, with James Watson (1991 Swift DB4) holding off Kaleb Ngatoa (1997 Swift DB4) in a final lap thriller in Saturday’s sole race. Image: Neville Bailey.Gary Rush (1989 Swift DB4) ahead of Damon Leitch (ex Jacques Lafitte 1981 Ralt RT4). Image: Neville Bailey.Kaleb Ngatoa finished second in Saturday’s Formula Atlantic race in the 1997 Swift DB4, behind the 1991 Swift DB4 of James Watson. Image: Neville Bailey.The 1986 Ralt RT4 driven by Andy Neale. Neale qualified eighth but was forced out of Saturday’s sole race on Lap 9 of 10. Image: Neville BaileyThe 1973 McLaren M23 was debuted at the 1973 South African Grand Prix, where Denny Hulme qualified it on pole. He took podiums in the Swedish GP and the British GP in this car. Image: Neville Bailey.Steve Millen demonstrates the highly modified ex-Dave Silcock 3.8 Mark 2 Jaguar in which he contested the 1971 and 1972 New Zealand Saloon Car Championship, finishing fourth overall. Image: Neville Bailey Works 1969 McLaren M8B-1, was built for the 1969 CanAm series in North America/Canada. The 1969 McLaren CanAm cars are the only cars in history to have ever won every race in a series, Bruce McLaren won 6 races and Denny Hulme won 5. This car went through a lengthy and meticulous restoration by world renowned McLaren restorer, Duncan Fox for the current owners. Image: Neville BaileyMortimer Motorsport’s March 84G-07 MAZDASPEED, a chassis designed by Adrian Newey, sold to Mazdaspeed for the development of a Rotary Powered Race Car to compete at Le Mans. Fitted with a Twin Rotor 13b Engine and Twin Turbochargers, this car raced in the 1984 Fuji 1000 with Yorino & Katayama at the wheel. Image: Neville BaileyTom Kristensen’s Audi A4 DTM #7 (Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline) was on hand to cut laps. Kristensen finished third in the 2006 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters in this car. Image: Neville BaileyRussell Ingall cuts laps in his 2005 Supercars title-winning Caltex Stone Brothers Racing Falcon, which also brings SBR co-owners Ross and Jimmy Stone across the Tasman to witness the first run of the recently-restored car. Image: Neville BaileyTony Quinn’s rare Tyrrell six-wheel F1 car takes to the track. Image: Neville BaileyThe Ford showcase on display at Taupo International Motorsport Park. Image: Neville Bailey.Barry Leitch features in his 1965 Lotus Cortina ‘Alan Mann Tribute’. Image: Neville Bailey.Graeme Cameron’s 1992 DTM E30 BMW M3 finished fourth in Race 1 and fifth in Race 2 of the Heritage Touring Cars. Image: Neville Bailey.Oliver Sentch, in the 1974 Mk1 Timex Escort, drove to victory in the HVRA Historic Saloon opener. Behind is the 1974 Ford Escort Mk1 of Dennis McConnell. Image: Neville Bailey.Wayne Graves drives the 1975 Porsche 911 in the HVRA Historic Saloons field. Image: Neville Bailey.David Hopper in action in the 1969 Chevrolet Camaro, which won both of Saturday’s Classic Saloon races. Image: Neville Bailey.Paul McCarthy drives the 1974 Zakspeed Ford Escort RS1600 in the Heritage Touring Car field. Image: Neville Bailey.The 2025 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Championnship started with a roar, with Kiwi Zack Scoular holding off Will Brown and Arvid Lindblad for victory. Image: Neville Bailey.The CTFROC field ready for action, with the Red Bull-backed FT60 of Arvid Lindblad centre. Image: Neville BaileyA 2020 Pagani Huyara runs demo laps. Image: Neville BaileyA 2021 McLaren Speedtail runs display laps. Image: Neville Bailey.A 2008 Bugatti Veyron takes to the track for hot laps. Image: Neville Bailey
Sensational! I wish I was competing there, but to my chagrin I’ve blown my money in the past on other racing cars!