Allan takes GR86 title
The final race of the inaugural Bridgestone GR86 Championship didn’t have the intensity of some of the previous 15 races.
But that was fine with new champion Hugo Allan, who took his second win of the day to cruise to the title in his CareVets Racing entry.
It was a special moment for Allan, who burst onto the Toyota 86 scene several seasons ago with a fine performance at the same track, Taupo.
Budget constraints had prevented him from mounting serious challenges in previous seasons. However, this year he has been a force to be reckoned with in only his second full season of motorsport.
“I’m blown away to be honest,” says Allan, pictured with his trophy. “I can’t thank my boys enough. They gave me a strong vehicle all season, and I cannot thank Kiwitarp and CareVets enough for giving me the opportunity to get back in a car to be in the championship.
“I think people forget this is only the second full season of racing I’ve been able to complete and to go up against all these boys, many of whom have a lot of experience.
“We always had pace here, but I didn’t quite get qualifying right. The reverse grid worked in our favour for once and I was able to move forward, go fast and grab pole.”
The grid for the final race of the championship on April 13 was formed by the fastest laps from the first two and Allan had clocked the best combination to start from pole position.
Alongside him was the youngest driver in the field – and one who has shown prodigious speed at Taupo throughout the Supercars weekend – Ajay Giddy. Josh Bethune, for whom only a win would do, lined up fifth.
Allan led away from pole with 14-year-old Giddy in hot pursuit, followed by Justin Allen and Zach Blincoe. Bethune was sixth behind Jett Murray.
With two laps gone Allan had built a lead of more than half a second on Giddy, and was in control of the race and championship.
Behind him a battle for second, third and fourth developed in the race’s second half. It was eventually resolved in favour of Giddy, who scored his best result of the season to hold off Justin Allen for second. Blincoe was fourth and Bethune a fighting fifth.
The final weekend of the Bridgestone GR86 Championship at Taupo took a dramatic twist in the first race with its winner, Bethune, moving to just 44 points behind series leader Hugo Allan.
Then a fine drive in race two saw Allan fight his way to the front and extend his championship lead over Bethune, who also had a strong drive to finish fifth.
Allan will now step up to the Summerset NZ GT Championship for a season in a GR Supra GT4 EVO2 courtesy of $50,000 to go towards the budget with RaceLab.
Bethune won a $15,000 Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) credit and Justin Allen a $10,000 credit for third overall.
Rookie winner Chris White will head to the GR Cup in Australia to compete in the Bathurst round in the TGR Australia guest car.
For masters’ class champion Simon Hunter, there’s the more relaxing prospect of a VIP trip for two to the 2026 Australian GP in Melbourne to see TGR Australia’s entry into the Supercars Championship.
