The Nexen Tyre NZ Mazda Racing Series South Island Championship wrapped up at Highlands Motorsport Park in Cromwell last weekend and it could only be described as an extremely successful season.
Chris White (main photo) of Prebbleton underlined his talent as he won his second straight title from Timaru driver Will Kitching with Matt Dodd third while Kitching also took the Rookie Title. Dalan Price of Swannanoa near Rangiora became the Masters Champion while Ken Thompson of Dunedin won the Historic Class in his Series 1 Mazda RX7 and Matt Dodd and Will Kitching (Team YTG) combined to take the Team Championship.
White, in his second year in the series, and Dodd and Price plus South Canterbury brothers Brent ‘Bones’ and Hamish Collins and Thompson are familiar names in the series but the real success story was the amazing growth this season with several quality drivers joining the series over the four rounds.
Kitching, last season’s Pro 8 South Island Champion, came across to the series during the off season. He was immediately competitive, taking the round win at the second round of the championship at Levels. At the final two rounds, in the presence of the full North Island contingent who came south seeking New Zealand Championship points, Kitching was in the thick of it at the front of the field. In fact, the Timaru youngster is currently second in the New Zealand Championship points as well.
Two exciting youngsters from kartsport joined the grid at Round 2 in Timaru. Mac Templeton from Prebbleton, who won the Rotax DVS Junior title at the 2023 National Schools Championships, and Arthur Broughan of Tuamarina near Blenheim, a two-time NZ Schools Champion and a South Island Champion, who has competed internationally in the FIA Academy in Europe and at the final round of the Australian Karting Championship both entered the fray. Despite the presence of some of the experienced North Island contingent the duo qualified fifth and seventh for their first race in the championship and were constantly in the first half of the field in their subsequent appearances.
Two more quick Cantabrians joined the series over the last two rounds. Ben McConochie of Christchurch lined up for the final two rounds and immediately scored a podium result with third at Euromarque Motorsport Park in Christchurch while Sam Wallace qualified in the top ten in his first appearance at Highlands Motorsport Park.
Each of these newcomers raced competitively, a notable achievement for each and every one of them, as there were some very experienced North Island competitors in the field for three of the four rounds.
It is believed that several cars are under construction for next year’s championship. The depth and calibre of drivers emerging in the South Island Championship augers very well for the 2024/2025 season and beyond.
Comments