TOYOTA GAZOO Racing New Zealand has confirmed its calendar dates for the first season of its new GR86 Championship today, with race meetings in the North and South Island for fans to look forward to.
Highlights of the forthcoming season include supporting the Supercars at Taupo, the New Zealand Grand Prix at Highlands and returning to Teretonga.
Drivers have shown plenty of interest in the new GR86, and the 2024-2025 championship is expected to be just as good as previous TR86 championships.
“Fans can expect racing that’s just as close and just as competitive,” explained TGRNZ Motorsport Manager Nicolas Caillol. “Drivers from the TR86 championship have always risen up the ladder of motorsport performing with distinction and success and that will continue with the new car. Testing has gone incredibly well and the drivers are going to love it.”
The first official hit out for the new GR86 and its drivers will be the annual official test and media day for the championship, which this year is again at TGRNZ’s home track, Hampton Downs, on October 29th and 30th.
The new GR86 Championship will have six rounds, and fans don’t have to wait too long to see the new cars in action. The first round is scheduled for Taupo International Motorsport Park over the weekend of November 22nd to 24th.
As was the case last season, there will be a decent Christmas break before the championship reconvenes at Hampton Downs on January 17-19 for round two around the full international circuit.
The championship will then head to the deep south for the third round two weekends later – January 31st—February 2nd—at the Teretonga Park Raceway in Invercargill. A week later, Highlands will be the main support for the New Zealand Grand Prix weekend.
The drivers and teams then get a chance to take a breath before the final two rounds of the championship, which are both in the North Island. The penultimate round will be on the Hampton Downs National Circuit over the weekend of March 21-23.
The season finale will be at the Supercars event at the Taupo International Motorsport Park on April 11th-13th.
The championship will run all of its races at events organised by new promoter National Racing Group Promotions, apart from the final Supercars round.
2024-2025 GR86 Championship
| Nov 22-24 | Taupo International Motorsport Park |
| Jan 17-19 | Hampton Downs (International layout) |
| Jan 31- Feb 2 | Teretonga |
| Feb 7-9 | Highlands Motorsport Park (NZ Grand Prix support) |
| Mar 21-23 | Hampton Downs (National layout) |
| Apr 11-13 | Taupo International Motorsport Park (Supercars support) |
Header Image: Tayler Burke
