Prepare for more spectacular Nexen Tyre NZ Mazda Racing Series action as competitors head to Taupō International Motorsport Park in Taupō for Round 2 of their North Island Series this weekend.

This weekend’s racing is part of the eagerly awaited Repco NextGen NZ Championship.

South Islander Arthur Broughan made a successful raid at the opening round of the North Island Series at Manfeild Circuit Chris Amon last month, racing to a clean sweep but he will now concentrate on the Toyota GR 86 Championship for the remainder of the season.

That leaves Stuart Lawton of Paraparaumu effectively as the series leader as they come to Taupō.

Lawton was second in each of the three races at the opening round giving him a good margin over the next best placed driver Rex Edwards of Tauranga, the 2022/2023 champion who made a successful return at Manfeild after a season off.

Stuart Lawton of Paraparumu in action during Round 1 of the Nexen Tyre NZ Mazda Racing North Island Series at Manfeild Circuit Chris Amon in Feilding last month. Lawton finished second in all three races on that occasion to sit second on points heading to Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend. Photo: Geoff Ridder.

Aucklanders Lance Gerlach and Karl Gaines were rewarded for fast, consistent performances at Manfeild to be next in the points coming into this weekend.

Others who stood out at the opening round were Aucklanders Leo Bult and Callum Pratt plus another South Islander, Mac Templeton of Prebbleton.

Also quick were Sam Dashfield, Steve Brown and Mark Oudney while Paige Macey of New Plymouth was impressive on her series debut.

Rejoining the series at Taupō are James Parker of Auckland and Jesse Gould from Raumati Beach while new faces include Steven Gaskell of Richmond Downs in the Waikato who has previously raced in the 2K Cup/OK Cup.

It is a strong line up of twenty-three cars for this, the first NextGen NZ Championship event. The Nexen Tyre NZ Mazda Racing Series served up some of the best racing of last summer and all the ingredients are there for more fireworks this season.

Series competitors will have three fifteen-minute practice sessions on Friday before a fifteen-minute qualifying session on Saturday morning to establish grid positions for Race 1 over ten laps that afternoon.

On Sunday morning, competitors face a twelve-lap top ten reverse grid race based on Saturday’s race results, followed by their finale over ten laps on Sunday afternoon with a grid based on points to that stage of the round.

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For point standings in our various series go to Season Points / | Mazda Racing Series