Five announcements in the lead up to Christmas in 2025 have been more like receiving unexpected presents from Santa.
First up was the announcement of Craig Baird joining the MotorSport NZ board. Baird brings a wealth of international competition experience coupled with governance expertise from his current role as Driving Standards Advisor for Supercars and GT categories across Asia. This is an outstanding appointment as Baird has lots to offer.
The announcement of Mike Hartley as the new MotorSport NZ CEO brings certainty to the governance of the sport heading into 2026. While not a lot is known about Hartley, we need to have faith in the recruitment process and a decision by the MSNZ board.
The third present from Santa was the appointment of Michael Masi as Event Director for the Repco NextGen NZ Championship. The Australian is no stranger to motorsport fans here and around the world with his prior roles as the FIA Formula One World Championship Race Director, as a director and Deputy Chair of Karting Australia, a board member on the South Australian Motor Sport Board and as the Independent Chair of the Supercars Commission.
Why is Masi’s appointment a key to a successful summer series? Well, if you look at the original media release announcing his NZ role, it’s about a show of commitment by MotorSport New Zealand, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing NZ, and the Repco NextGen NZ Championship to work together in a bid to further develop the world class nature of New Zealand motorsport.
We have three key organisations essentially with different agendas but working together. There are some strong personalities involved and Masi will be an equally strong neutral force with the responsibility to bring this energy together for the greater good of motorsport in NZ. Quite an astute choice.
Supercars broadcaster Riana Crehan joins Greg Rust and Richard Craill as an all-Australian commentary team for the Repco NextGen NZ Championship over the summer. This fourth Christmas present signals a highly professional approach to the broadcasting of the series through Sky Sport NZ and Kayo Sports.
The lineup of this team sends a signal of optimism for the future. There are four consecutive key rounds across January and early February covering the four Castrol Toyota FR Oceania Trophy series and professional broadcasters won’t come cheap. Hence the requirement for ticket sales, sponsorship, advertising income etc. The question to consider with this level of investment is whether the motor racing categories to be covered in 2026 offer anything different to 2025, 2024 etc? Will it bring more people/revenue through the gate to pay for this level of professionalism?
The fifth and best present has to be Hayden Paddon’s recall to the 2026 World Rally Championship with Hyundai Motorsport. Santa outdid himself with this one and brings a renewed level of excitement to all things rallying! While our attention will be on Paddon competing back in the WRC, we cannot underestimate the flow on affect in the domestic rally scene here in New Zealand.
With his previous rise through the ranks of the WRC between 2007 and 2018, so we saw an increase in both entries and spectators in local club and national competitions. His recall brings a whole new or renewed level of energy to the domestic scene.
So, the five Christmas presents have been unwrapped and all is revealed. Not a bad way to head into 2026.
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