Latest news with #TaupoWinterSeries
Scoop
10-05-2025
- Automotive
- Scoop
Zeltwanger Takes Debut Win
Saturday, 10 May 2025, 2:58 pm Press Release: TOYOTA GAZOO Racing New Zealand Harry Townshend leads the field but Lee Zeltwanger took the spoils. Photo: Bruce Jenkins. Winter series class racer Townshend was simply too eager to get away from the lights quickly and picked up a five second penalty. Lee tucked in behind and for two laps the two enjoyed an entertaining battle for the lead but the damage to Townshend's race was done. Harry simply didn't have the speed to build a five second margin on Zeltwanger and after a couple of attempts to pass the Bridgestone GR86 Championship racer, Lee contented himself sitting in close proximity to the leader and counted down the eight laps to the flag. After taking pole position in the morning, he was delighted to secure an impressive first win. 'I knew early on that Harry had picked up a penalty,' he said afterwards. 'But I like to try and win on the road so I had a couple of goes at passing him, but the win was more important in the end so I was happy to tuck in behind and stay nice and close.' Behind the two leaders, Corbyn Sprague improved further on his qualifying performance and went one better to beat Ajay Giddy to the flag. That third became second in the final results with Townshend's penalty and that five seconds was also enough to promote Giddy to the final place on the podium and the Winter Series class win. Sprague was satisfied with the result after having only limited running in the CareVets TR86. 'I genuinely haven't had a lot of time in the car and I am still very much learning it and building a relationship with the team, we are getting faster every time we go out on the track so I am pretty happy with second and we know there is much more to come.' Townshend's penalty dropped him to an eventual fourth. Fifth should have been Matt Day in the Dayle ITM TR86 but he was another to jump the gun at the start and also copped a five second penalty. That put Noel Simpson fifth overall ahead of Toby Elmiger after a fine battle midfield, with Nathan Grammer seventh, Kyan Davie eighth, Day ninth and Conley Webley rounding out the top ten. Toyota 86 Trophy Series – Round 1 Hampton Downs Qualifying Grid Car # Driver name Trophy / Winter Team 1 22 Lee Zeltwanger Trophy Lee Zeltwanger 2 84 Corban Sprague Trophy iMac Engineering 3 10 Ajay Giddy Winter Mackenzie Motorsport 4 73 Harry Townshend Winter Mackenzie Motorsport 5 88 Noel Simpson Trophy Action Motorsport 6 74 Toby Elmiger Trophy Action Motorsport 7 50 Nathan Grammer Trophy Mackenzie Motorsport 8 19 Kyan Davie Trophy Mackenzie Motorsport 9 100 Matt Day Trophy Dayle ITM Racing 10 18 Conley Webley Trophy Action Motorsport 2025 Toyota 86 Trophy Series Rd1 9-10 May 2025 Hampton Downs - NZIGP Finale Rd2 21-22 June 2025 Taupo Int. Motorsport Park - Taupo Winter Series Rd3 5-6 July 2025 Manfeild – Circuit Chris Amon - Manfeild Winter Series Rd4 26-27 July 2025 Taupo Int. Motorsport Park - Taupo Winter Series Visit us: © Scoop Media
Scoop
09-05-2025
- Automotive
- Scoop
Winter Is Coming And The TR86s Return To Do Battle
The cut and thrust of Toyota TR86 racing – so long a New Zealand favourite - returns this weekend at Hampton Downs as the brand new Toyota 86 Trophy Series gets underway. The TR86 model – one of New Zealand's most popular sports cars – provided race fans with thrilling action until the new GR86 racer was introduced for last season. The iconic TR86 races on, however, in the all-new four round winter series which takes on Hampton Downs, Manfeild and two visits to the Taupo circuit. Two classes compete for race wins, the Trophy Class covers most of the field but the Winter Series class is for those drivers who have raced in the Bridgestone GR 86 Championship or equivalent series. Practice takes place on Friday and all of the qualifying and race action will take place on Saturday. A 20 minute qualifying session for the field – a 10 car opener for the first round – is followed by the first race, an eight lapper. The second 10 lap race later in the day will have a grid formed on the fastest times the drivers clock in the first race. There's plenty of quality in the field too. Corbyn Sprague and Conley Webley come from the South Island and bring plenty of pedigree while the performances of Nathan Grammer, Toby Elmiger and Lee Zeltwanger will also be under the spotlight. Endurance racer Kyan Davie and former TR86 Championship racer Noel Simpson could also go well and watch out for young Matt Day, racing the ex- Orr-West TR86 in its familiar Dayle ITM yellow livery for the family team. The Winter Series class features two drivers who both scored podium finished in the GR86 Championship, Harry Townshend and young Ajay Giddy. Both know the Bridgestone tyre that is being used in the Winter Series and can be expected to go well. Townshend will be reunited with the TR86 he drove for two seasons before switching to the GR86 for his 2024-2025 championship campaign. 2025 Toyota 86 Trophy Series Rd1 9-10 May 2025 Hampton Downs - NZIGP Finale Rd2 21-22 June 2025 Taupo Int. Motorsport Park - Taupo Winter Series Rd3 5-6 July 2025 Manfeild – Circuit Chris Amon - Manfeild Winter Series Rd4 26-27 July 2025 Taupo Int. Motorsport Park - Taupo Winter Series
Scoop
09-05-2025
- Automotive
- Scoop
‘Veteran' Zeltwanger Aiming For Winter Success Aboard Toyota 86
Press Release – Toyota New Zealand With fifteen years of experience in the sport at the age of just 23, Massey racer Lee Zeltwanger has plenty of experience to take into a winter campaign in the Toyota 86 Trophy Series. An all-round sports fanatic who also plays seven-a-side and eleven-a-side soccer, Lee is a graduate in sports exercise, nutrition and management and likes working on the cars he races as well as driving them. He's had plenty of success in those 15 years on the motorsport scene too, as he explained. 'I have been in motorsport for 15 years, and started when I was seven years old in karts. In 2018 I moved away from karts and into car racing starting in the BMW Race Driver Series in the E30 class. 'I enjoyed racing in that for three years and then moved into the BMW E46 class for another three seasons. Some highlights were definitely winning the North Island Championship in 2014 in the Junior restricted class and winning the Kapellen Trophy in Rotax mini in Switzerland in 2012. I won City of Sails, was second at the CIK trophy of NZ, was Auckland club champion and won races in both the BMW E30 and E46 classes. 'Now, though, I have my eyes set on the Toyota 86 Trophy Series.' All-rounder Zeltwanger will run his own Toyota 86 in the four round series, which begins this weekend at Hampton Downs and he is determined to do well against high quality opposition. 'My objective is of course to try win the series but also be consistent and finish every race to maximise points,' he added. 'Another objective is winning the scholarship that is available to the winner to do a season in the new Toyota 86 cars in the Bridgestone GR86 Championship. That would be amazing.' Lee will contest the series, which also races at Manfeild and at Taupo International Motorsport Park twice, with the help of Timberworld East Tamaki, Euro West Limited, Solimara NZ Ltd, SKUNKWORKS and the Automoves Racing Team. 2025 Toyota 86 Trophy Series Rd1 9-10 May 2025 Hampton Downs – NZIGP Finale Rd2 21-22 June 2025 Taupo Int. Motorsport Park – Taupo Winter Series Rd3 5-6 July 2025 Manfeild – Circuit Chris Amon – Manfeild Winter Series Rd4 26-27 July 2025 Taupo Int. Motorsport Park – Taupo Winter Series
Scoop
08-05-2025
- Automotive
- Scoop
Elmiger Hoping Hard Work Brings Racing Rewards
The Taupo Nui A Tia college racer – who works at the Taupo International Motorsport Park in his spare time – will be racing in a car with a roof for the first time and will be up against some of the country's best young drivers. 'I've been working hard on and off the track with my team Action Motorsport,' he explained as he was confirmed for the four round series which begins at Hampton Downs this weekend. 'I've been going over previous drivers' data and onboard camera footage for the different tracks to see where I can improve while also working hard away from the track, going to the gym, and making sure I'm physically fit and ready for the challenge.' Elmiger has been racing in the NZ Formula First Championship, a single seater category that has produced some household New Zealand motorsport names. After securing a podium on debut, he went on to complete last season's summer championship and proved himself to be one of the fastest rookies. Now in the Toyota, he's hoping to be just as fast and competitive once he's got used to the car. 'While I've been in the car, I've found it very different from what I've previously driven, but I've adapted quickly and comfortably, and am enjoying the challenge of driving a different type of car. While I haven't driven the TR86 at Manfeild yet, I think Hampton Downs will be my favourite track with the fast-flowing corners. I think it will be great and make for some close racing. 'My main objective for this upcoming season is to learn as much as possible, but like any driver I'm aiming for the top step in the championship and to try and win something from a great prize pool.' The series will include two visits to his home track as well as the weekends at Hampton Downs and Manfeild and Toby will be carrying support from Penny Homes, GGL Site Development, Carters, Pitch Sports Bar, ARA|Sign On and Wise Concrete. 2025 Toyota 86 Trophy Series Rd1 9-10 May 2025 Hampton Downs - NZIGP Finale Rd2 21-22 June 2025 Taupo Int. Motorsport Park - Taupo Winter Series Rd3 5-6 July 2025 Manfeild – Circuit Chris Amon - Manfeild Winter Series
Scoop
03-05-2025
- Automotive
- Scoop
Day To Fly Family Flag In Toyota 86 Trophy Series
Fifteen year old Matt is the racing son of long-time New Zealand motorsport supporters Deborah – the current MSNZ President - and Martin Day and is well known amongst the rank and file who make the sport happen over countless weekends during the year. 'Most people in the sport will be aware I've been in motorsport since before I could crawl, primarily volunteering for The MotorSport Club as a marshall and more recently venturing into competing, where I have really enjoyed the time in the BMW I have raced,' he explained. Having cut his teeth in a Mazda MX5 as his first circuit car three years ago, Day performed well in the BMW series last season having won its Scholarship competition. He finished in the top five overall and runner up in the rookie points for 2024-2025. He's also an accomplished sim racer, having started - like so many of the current young talents in New Zealand - during the Covid pandemic period. The Western Springs College Year 11 student has his focus firmly fixed on improvement over the forthcoming four round series. 'At this point in my racing career seat time is the priority, so learning and improving during the four rounds will be the goal. 'Even before the prize pool came out offering the chance to race in the GR86 Championship next season, the Trophy Series was appealing because there will be lots of young drivers in it like me who are all looking to establish themselves and improve and that's a great environment to learn in. 'I'm lucky as I have done plenty of test days in the car although not on the tyre we will be racing on. It's an amazing car for a young driver and does everything you ask of it.' Matt will race the ex-Christina Orr-West Toyota TR86 which will, of course, run in the now iconic yellow of Dayle ITM and under the wing of the Dayle ITM Racing team. 2025 Toyota 86 Trophy Series Rd1 9-10 May 2025 Hampton Downs - NZIGP Finale Rd2 21-22 June 2025 Taupo Int. Motorsport Park - Taupo Winter Series Rd3 5-6 July 2025 Manfeild – Circuit Chris Amon - Manfeild Winter Series Rd4 26-27 July 2025 Taupo Int. Motorsport Park - Taupo Winter Series
