Latest news with #TrophySeries
Scoop
10-05-2025
- Automotive
- Scoop
Zeltwanger Races To First Toyota 86 Trophy Series Pole
For all of the drivers competing, it was the first dry time on track in the TR86 at the race meeting after most of Friday was rained off and it was Zeltwanger in his self-run TR86 – overseen by experienced Toyota racer Dion Pitt - who was quickest into the groove. His first flying lap was in the 1 minute 16 second bracket before he unleashed his best on his second flying lap – an impressive 1 minute 16.150 second effort. He was delighted to have found pole winning speed so quickly, commenting: 'I set a decent lap time on my first flying lap but when the tyres were up to temperature I was able to go a bit faster and I am very happy with my speed. It's a great car to drive, with much less roll than I am used to. 'I'm one hundred percent looking forward to the races a little later.' Alongside Lee on the front row for the first race of the new series will be old hand Harry Townshend. Back in the car he raced in the Toyota 86 Championship, but ineligible for Trophy Series points having run in the Bridgestone GR86 Championship last season, he nevertheless showed his intent to bag a few race wins and podiums with a fine lap of 1 minute 16.419 on his second flying lap. That was good for the fastest time in the Winter Series class, edging out rival Ajay Giddy by three tenths of a second. CareVets Scholarship winner Corbyn Sprague saved his best effort until later in the session to claim the outside starting position on the second row with fourth fastest time. Matt Day was at the sharp end from the first flying lap and had a solid session aboard the Dayle ITM Racing TR86, also clocking a time under the 1 minute 17 second TR86 benchmark to take the fifth fastest time. Sixteen year old Taupo student Toby Elmiger will be alongside Day on the third row of the grid. Former TR86 championship series Master class racer Noel Simpson qualified a solid seventh in the Lexel TR86, edging Nathan Grammer. Ninth and tenth will be Kyan Davie and Conley Webley. Toyota 86 Trophy Series – Round 1 Hampton Downs Qualifying Grid Car # Driver name Trophy / Winter Team 1 22 Lee Zeltwanger Trophy Lee Zeltwanger 2 73 Harry Townshend Winter Mackenzie Motorsport 3 10 Ajay Giddy Winter Mackenzie Motorsport 4 84 Corban Sprague Trophy iMac Engineering 5 100 Matt Day Trophy Dayle ITM Racing 6 74 Toby Elmiger Trophy Action Motorsport 7 88 Noel Simpson Trophy Action Motorsport 8 50 Nathan Grammer Trophy Mackenzie Motorsport 9 19 Kyan Davie Trophy Mackenzie Motorsport 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
Scoop
08-05-2025
- Automotive
- Scoop
Giddy To Run Trophy Series Ahead Of Second GR86 Campaign
The 14-year-old Orewa College student was the youngest competitor in the championship last season and indeed one of the youngest ever competitors in any Toyota series in New Zealand. He showed immense promise too, occasionally topping the timesheets in practice, qualifying third at the final round at the recent Supercars event before taking a fourth place and second place finish over the weekend. He's now looking to maintain that momentum and get more track time and more knowledge of the Bridgestone tyre ahead of next season. The Mackenzie Motorsport-run driver cannot win the Trophy Series as a current Bridgestone GR86 Championship competitor, but he can win the Winter Series class and take race wins and podiums. 'I think this will be a really good series to help me continue to improve my race craft,' he said. 'Time in the seat on any of the tracks is always so beneficial no matter what car you are driving and the TR86 is also a fun car to drive. 'It's also a great opportunity to stay current and prepare for the next season of GR86 Series at the end of the year which I really want to do well in.' 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
06-05-2025
- Automotive
- Scoop
Townshend A Favourite For Toyota 86 Trophy Series Wins
The Toyota regular, who scored his first podium finish in last season's Bridgestone GR86 Championship, will run all four rounds of the Trophy Series in his older TR86 car in which he competed for two seasons in Toyota's main championship before it switched to the GR86 model. Having competed in the GR86 Championship, he is ineligible for the Trophy Series title but can win races, score podiums and win the Winter Series class for more experienced racers. Circuit knowledge, car knowledge and most importantly knowledge of the new Bridgestone tyre guarantees that Harry has a strong set of cards heading into round one at Hampton Downs this weekend. 'I'm definitely looking for podium finishes even though the main reason for racing is that we have a great time as a team,' he explained. 'It's always good to keep developing your driving skills, which for me have come a long way in the past couple of seasons. 'Last season was a breakthrough one for myself and the team getting a podium result and being consistently fast in the races. 'I can improve further in qualifying and that will be something I will focus on at these race weekends, particularly in regard to learning how to get the most out of the strong Bridgestone tyre at exactly the right moment. Harry's winter campaign will be backed by loyal supporters Bayswater Vehicles, Repco, and Provident Insurance. 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
