It starts on the sim. It ends, for one driver, in the cockpit of a Toyota 86 race car at Hampton Downs.
The GT7 New Zealand Championship, presented by the NZ Sim Racing Collective, is the latest chapter in New Zealand’s growing tradition of bridging sim racing and real-world motorsport. With the backing of Toyota Gazoo Racing NZ, it is a clear statement of just how seriously that pathway is being taken.
Organised by HoonCorp in collaboration with the NZ Sim Racing Collective (NZSRC), the GT7 New Zealand Championship is a six-round series running on Gran Turismo 7. Qualifying opens on June 15th.
The winner will not only be crowned the GT7 New Zealand Champion but will also receive a Toyota Gazoo Racing New Zealand (TGR NZ) Academy day at Hampton Downs Motorsport Park. The prize includes professional driver coaching, data analysis sessions, and multiple on-track driving sessions in a Toyota 86 race car.
“If you look over the last 15 years, we have a lot of examples coming from sim racing to on-track events”, says Nico Caillol from Toyota Gazoo Racing NZ, noting Toyota’s strong support for the sim-to-track pathway.
“Recently, we had Peter Vodanovich go from sim racing to champion in the Toyota 86 championship, and Hugo Allan as well is part of starting in sim and going into the journey in motorsport and winning the championship in the GR86”.
The championship follows previous Toyota-supported sim racing initiatives that have helped identify emerging talent. Past champions Matthew McEwen, Antal Sabo and, most recently, Cooper Prout have all progressed from virtual competition to valuable seat time in Toyota 86 race cars, earning real-world driving opportunities through their sim racing success.
The GT7 NZ Championship is structured around a qualifying period followed by a six-round season, with the field drawn from the fastest drivers in the country on Gran Turismo 7.
Drivers will first compete in the qualifying period running from June 15-22 using Gran Turismo 7’s Circuit Experience mode. The top 14 drivers from the qualification period will secure their position in the championship’s premier division.
A second split will also run alongside the main championship, ensuring a wider range of competitors can take part throughout the season.
The championship runs from 13 July to 17 August, with one round per week across six events. The format is not a spec series; the car and track lineup changes each round, spanning Toyota’s motorsport stable from GT touring cars and hot hatches to Group 2 machinery and a full Le Mans prototype. The circuits are equally varied, including some of motorsport’s most iconic venues, with Le Mans, Bathurst, and the Nürburgring featuring across the closing three rounds.
It is a format that demands genuine versatility and will reward the most complete drivers in the field.
Every round of the GT7 New Zealand Championship will be broadcast live on NZ Sim Racing TV, featuring professional commentary and production provided by sim racing experts TrackSpot.TV. Adding to the excitement, Hectic Motorsport News will present the “Hectic Moment” award each round. The award will recognise standout moments from the racing, whether that’s an exceptional overtake, a fierce battle for position, a remarkable save, or even a dramatic incident.
The GT7 New Zealand Championship is being organised under the banner of the NZ Sim Racing Collective, a group committed to growing sim racing in New Zealand. As the first championship to crown an officially recognised sim racing national champion, the series marks a major step forward for competitive sim racing in the country and aims to highlight the calibre of talent within the local Gran Turismo community.
“The GT7 National Championship launches the next evolution of Sim Racing in New Zealand, with official recognition from the NZ Esports Federation. We are incredibly proud of our supporters and organisers, and excited to see where this next step in our journey takes us,” said NZ Sim Racing Collective Chairman Matthew Pluck.
Entries are free and open exclusively to New Zealand competitors – GT7 NZ Championship Entry Form
Championship Schedule:
- Qualifying (15-22 June)
Circuit Experience – Tokyo South Counter - Round 1 – 13 July
Toyota GR Supra Gr.4 @ Interlagos
Toyota GR Yaris ’20 @ Dragon Trail Seaside - Round 2 – 20 July
Lexus RC F GT3 @ Red Bull Ring GP
Toyota GR86 ’21 @ Montreal GP - Round 3 – 27 July
Lexus RC F ’14 @ Alsace
Dallara SF23 Toyota @ Spa - Round 4 – 3 August
Toyota GR010 @ Le Mans
Lexus LC500 ’17 @ Daytona Road - Round 5 – 10 August
Lexus RC F Gr.2 ’16 @ Fuji Speedway
Toyota GR Supra ’20 @ Bathurst - Round 6 – 17 August
Toyota GR Corolla MORIZO ’22 @ Deep Forest Raceway
Lexus LFA ’10 @ Nürburgring 24 Hour
Header Image: Supplied
