All to play for as Mazda Pro8 NZ season gets underway in Timaru this weekend

The 2026/27 Mazda Pro8 New Zealand series gets underway this weekend with Timaru International Raceway hosting the first of five rounds.  With the previous title holders Corban Sprague and Jared Pyke not competing this season, it will be all to play for to find a new champion over this summer of racing.  Also, not on the grid this weekend is Hamish Evans who finished runner up last season.

Kaleb Pateman heads up the fight having finished fourth equal last season with Ryan Gallagher.   Sam Knight and Oakley West will also be on the grid having finished sixth and seventh last season.

Gallagher picked up last year’s Rookie of the Season prize while Knight received the Most Improved Driver award. Also returning are Jermey Skeggs, Lincoln Brunton, Luke Casey, Mal Walters and Oakley West.

Two rookie drivers have joined the field for this season.  Both Jacob Cunniffe and Oscar Tatom come with experience competing in the SS Cup category. 

“The season is finally upon us and a big thank you to everyone who has made this possible,” said Cunniffe. “It takes a lot of hard work and perseverance to break into a new class and I’m grateful for the opportunity.

“I am definitely going into the season with a lot of excitement and focus to put in a good campaign.”

The Patemans Lighthouse Round 1 will see qualifying and two races take place on Saturday.  While the grid for Race 1 is determined by the qualifying order, Race 2 will be by marble draw.  Sunday sees a reverse-marble draw Race 3 and Race 4 determined by round points from the preceding three races.

Teretonga Park in Invercargill hosts the second round (5-6 December 2026) with a return to Timaru at the end of January for the Thunder Down Under Super Truck meeting (30-31 January 2027). 

The Euromarque Motorsport Park in Christchurch hosts the penultimate Round 4 (13-14 March 2027) with the Round 5 finale at Highlands Motorsport Park in Cromwell (10 April 2027). The Mazda Pro8 New Zealand series acknowledges the support from Kumho Tyres, DBA Disc Brakes Australia, HM Auto Electrical, Silvester V8 Performance, Sign Base, Straight 8 Estate and Auto Gas Specialists.