Auckland driver Callum Pratt has gained the early advantage in the 2025/2026 Nexen Tyre Mazda Racing Super Series after the first round at Manfeild Circuit Chris Amon in Feilding this weekend.
Pratt won two of the three races and finished second in the other behind Dunedin driver James Black to leave the Manawatu circuit with the early points lead in the series. He topped the round with 128 points to take the top step of the podium ahead of Tauranga driver Rex Edwards (111) and Stu Lawton of Paraparaumu with 101 points.
Black won the opening race on Saturday after a great battle with fastest qualifier Lawton who ran out of fuel towards the end of the race, nursing his car home in fifth place, leaving Pratt to cross the line second with Edwards third.
On Sunday Pratt won both races. The first featured the traditional top ten reverse grid from Saturday’s result. Auckland driver Steve Brown led early from rookie Tomas Climo of Hamilton before Edwards came through to the front after rocketing off the start line.
Climo snatched the lead back mid-race and then Lawton came through on lap seven and led to the flag with Pratt crossing the line second ahead of Edwards and Saturday’s race winner Black.
However, both Lawton and Edwards received 5 second penalties for jump starts, promoting Pratt to the race win from Black and Lawton. Edwards was classified fourth ahead of Climo and Alex Canty of Auckland.
Black led initially in the final race but lost his brakes early on, pitching him off the circuit. Pratt took the lead and remained in front to the flag with Edwards second. Ajay Giddy of Auckland, fourteenth on Saturday and a non-finisher on Sunday morning, put in a remarkable drive to come from the back of the field to place third ahead of Canty and Lawton after an incident-packed race.
Canty had a good weekend with three top six results while Bryan Walker of Christchurch featured well with two top ten finishes.
Several of the rookie drivers in the field excelled with James Black claiming Rookie honours for the round. However, Rudi Kronstrom, Climo and Giddy were all impressive throughout the weekend.
Elton Wichman of Auckland topped the Masters (Over 50) podium from Nigel Edger of Hamilton and Steve Brown of Auckland in a tight battle between the three.
The next round of the series takes place at Hampton Downs Motorsport Park, North Waikato over the weekend of 22-23 November.
Comments