Three races, three winners at Manfeild in busy Toyota 86 Trophy

Three races in a busy schedule at Manfeild – Circuit Chris Amon provided three different winners and a day packed with racing action at the third round of the Toyota 86 Trophy Series on Saturday.

Nieko Scoles and Nathan Grammer scored their second wins around the iconic Manawatu circuit, and Josh Hill enjoyed a fantastic day’s racing to become the sixth winner with victory in the final race of the day.

In the first race of the day, it was all about young Scoles, who led from start to finish in a polished display from pole position, eventually coming home a relatively comfortable two seconds ahead of second-placed Grammer.

Nathan started the race well and enjoyed a good race with a resurgent Hill, passing him for second on the fourth lap.

There was nothing Hill could do, and he trailed Grammer by a second and a half at the flag, still comfortably driving home to his first podium. Marcel Bartley also enjoyed his best result in the Trophy Series with fourth place.

After a quick turnaround by the teams, Grammer went one better in race two after jumping into the lead from third on the grid on the first lap. He held on to win ahead of a charging Scoles, who had carved his way through the field from fourth at the end of the first lap. Series debutant Miles Baker impressed too, converting a front row start to third in the race.

Race three produced a fine race-long duel between Hill and the Winter Series points leader going into Manfeild – Toby Elmiger – with both starting on the front row.

Elmiger led for much of the way, but Hill made a crucial pass on lap nine to take the lead and edge out Toby by just under one second at the flag.

Bartley took his second podium finish of the day on the road but later lost it after a penalty for contact with Taylor Mitchell, who then inherited third. That was his best result of the round after a relatively tough day at the office.

It all meant an even tighter points table at the end of the day, with just one round to go in two weeks, again at Manfeild.

That third place for Mitchell helped him secure the overall lead in the points table for the Rookie’s Trophy Series ahead of Scoles, while he slipped to 19 points behind Elmiger in the overall Winter Series points.

2026 Toyota 86 Trophy Series – Round 3 Manfeild- Circuit Chris Amon – Race 1

2026 Toyota 86 Trophy Series – Round 3 Manfeild- Circuit Chris Amon – Race 2

2026 Toyota 86 Trophy Series – Round 3 Manfeild- Circuit Chris Amon – Race 3

Header Image: Bruce Jenkins