‘Huge amount of interest’

Dates for the second season of the Bridgestone GR86 Championship have been locked and loaded for 2025/26, and it promises to be another thrilling season for drivers in New Zealand’s leading one-make, one-model championship.

The six-round championship, which will once again run as a featured category in the series, includes two dates at Hampton Downs.

There is also a weekend at Toyota NZ’s “home circuit” of Manfeild, the South Island leg of Teretonga followed by the NZ Grand Prix meeting at Highlands, and the competition will conclude at the Supercars round in Taupo.

The season blasts off at the end of October with the first round at Hampton Downs before a break until January 9-11 when it's back to the North Waikato circuit for a second weekend on the “long” track.

The championship heads south two weeks later for the double-header at Teretonga from January 23-25 and the GP meeting at Highlands the following weekend. 

It’s back to the North Island for the final two rounds with Manfeild from February 27 to March 1 and the finale at the Taupo Supercars weekend of April 10-12.

A full grid was a huge feature of the inaugural year of the championship – won in style by Hugo Allan – and with dates confirmed early, Toyota Gazoo Racing NZ is again hoping for a full field of 20-plus cars.

“Last season’s racing was closer than ever,” says category manager Amanda Tollemache. “It produced great racing and a huge variety of winners and drivers who scored a podium result. 

“Next season should be equally as exciting and there is a huge amount of interest, which we are certain will result in another big field.”