Karting Bay of Plenty served as host to racers from across the nation, as the tight Apparelmaster Raceway provided a great weekend of racing for Round 2 of the 2026 Top Gear Trailers Top Half Series.
The Top Half series is unique in the way that drivers total points are counted over four race weekends, with no dropped races – meaning every result, good or bad, counts to their overall season total. Drivers also have to consider a two set tyre limit, and randomised starting grids.
It is not only series honours on the line – courtesy of Toyota Gazoo Racing, the winners of the Rotax Max Junior and Rotax Max Light classes also win a half-day test in the Toyota TR86 car, as raced in the Toyota Gazoo Racing Trophy Series. All drivers also have the chance to win spot prizes such as free entries, tyres, vouchers, and Makita tools.
TCB Motorsport – Cadet Rok
Faelan O’Hara was able to improve on a Round 1 third place to take the overall win with two wins, two thirds, and a fifth with multiple fastest laps. O’Hara pipped the #57 of Buddy Murch, who finished second by a mere point ahead of Charlie Brant. Sebastian Grant took fourth with 234 points, ahead of the #66 of Oliver Candlish in fifth. Murch now leads the championship in the Cadet class by one point over O’Hara, with Round 1 winner Grant nipping at their heels.
N-Zed Motorsport – Vortex Mini Rok
Dominic Evers, in the #77 Energy Corse kart, was able to take round honours in the highly competitive Vortex Mini Rok class with a win, fourth, fifth, seventh, and eighth. Evers finished ahead of Van Walker on 227 points, with Xan Twilley taking third on 225 points. Flynn Zwiers took fourth place, finishing six points ahead of Alan Alcock. Evers now holds an eight-point lead over Walker in the championship, with Twilley four points behind in third.
International Kart Supplies – Rotax Max Junior
In his first round of the Top Half championship, Patrick McDonald took the round honours in Rotax Max Junior with a 100% podium finish, taking two wins, a second, and a third to bring home 245 points for the weekend. McDonald finished ahead of Aedan Smart and Charlie Jamieson, both also competing in their first round of the championship. Aryan Lala was able to continue his form to finish fourth out of eighteen competitors, with Zach Hemphill finishing four points behind Lala. Lala’s performance has helped him maintain the championship lead over Hemphill, with Brae Milne sitting in third.
Urban Performance – Rotax Max Light
Lewis Draper and Scott McDonald made it an Energy Corse 1-2 in Rotax Max Lights, with both drivers initially tying on 237 points before Draper was declared the winner on race countback. Round 1 winner Cy Finnemore brought home third place with 232 points, finishing ahead of Fletcher Lowe on 230 points, with Graeme Smyth seven points back on 223. Finnemore’s third place has helped the Dan Connor Racing driver maintain his series lead, sitting ahead of Smyth and Seth Comer.
Rotax Max Heavy
Sufficient entries meant the Rotax Max Heavy class made their debut for the 2026 Top Gear Trailers Top Half season, with Corey Green pipping Darren Walker for the round win. Green took home three wins and two seconds to finish on 248 points, two ahead of Walker and six ahead of third-place Adam Bell.
JW Group – Rotax DD2
It was a close battle at the top in the Rotax DD2 class, with Jason Lee beating out Ryan Crombie to take the round win on 244 points, one ahead of Crombie on 243. Walker, doing double duties, finished in third place with 234, one point ahead of Ryan Higgins in fourth, with Round 1 winner Kane Adamson finishing in fifth. Lee now holds a three-point lead over Crombie, with Adamson sitting four points back after holding an initial eleven-point lead.
The 2026 Top Gear Trailers Top Half season will now take a short break for the resumption of the Hampton Downs Racing Academy KartStars series, and will resume at Karting Hamilton on the 10th of October.
