Both the oldest and newest titles on the Baypark Speedway calendar are up for grabs this Saturday night.
The South Pacific Super Saloon Car Champs can trace its origin back to the 1970s and the early years of the original Baypark Speedway. In contrast, the other half of this weekend’s twin feature attraction establishes an inaugural (and unofficial) national title for the emerging F2 Midget Car class.
This season, the Jaxxon Concrete Pumps South Pacific Super Saloon title assumes added importance as the main curtain raiser before the 2025 New Zealand Championship at Baypark Speedway in February.
It’s attracted the largest Super Saloon field assembled in the North Island to date this season, numbering 24 drivers. Reigning New Zealand champ Chris Cowling leads the entry list which also includes former national champions Sam Waddell, Steve Cowling, Mick Quin and Brent Emerson.
Whitianga racer Bodie Abrahamson is the defending title holder while Aucklander Ben Harding made an impressive winning return to Baypark last season and will chasing more success.
Other highly rated visitors from across the North Island include Hawke’s Bay racers Thomas Stanaway and Jeremy Browne, Stratford’s Joe Ingram, Palmerston North’s Peter Bengston and Wellington racer Mark Pitcher.
Governing body Speedway NZ recognises the F2 Midgets as a sub-class of the Midgets and the category doesn’t have official title status. But growing car numbers has encouraged Baypark to establish the BSL Racing Aotearoa F2 Championship to give the class further recognition and begin the path to an official title in the future.
Form at Baypark last season – and with an F2 feature victory at the last meeting – James Earl has been the class pace-setter while Joshua Matthews, Devon George, Dion Kendall and Tylar Brown are among the other contenders in a 20-car field that is a near-equally split with 11 Baypark and nine Western Springs registered drivers.
Another high quality Sprintcar field has been assembled for the fourth meeting of the season.
The 20-strong entry list is headed by Hamilton’s Daniel Thomas, who has already claimed two Baypark feature wins this season, and Jonathan Allard who won on the second night of the season. Early season podium finishers Dean Brindle and Rodney Wood are expected to challenge again while current 2NZ Dean Cooper makes a return after crashing out on opening night.
Stock Cars make their second appearance of the season with a 29-car field drawn from the ranks of the Baypark, Rotorua, Huntly, Gisborne and Kihikihi tracks.
Racing starts at 6.30pm.
