Header Image: Graham Hughes (Sportsweb Photography)- 2023/24 North Island Championship at Gisborne
Superstock racing takes centre stage at McDonald’s Kihikihi Speedway this weekend, with a 49-strong field gearing up for the 2025/26 North Island Championship.
Included in the mix are the current 1NZ Todd Hemingway, current 2NZ Ethan Levien, 2023/24 2NZ Blair Uhlenberg, 2017/18 New Zealand Champion William Humphries, and Teams Champs Hall of Famer Dave Roigard, amoung others.
The entire 2024/25 podium, of Ethan Rees (Gisborne), Josh Prentice (Gisborne), and Asher Rees (Gisborne) will not be competing, making for an all-new podium come Saturday evening.
Competitors are split across two groups, the Placemakers Blue Group and the TWS Red Group. Each group will race three times on Friday, with the top twelve automatically qualifying for Saturday night’s finals.
Those who do not progress from their group will have a final opportunity in the repechage, the top two drivers from Saturday’s opening race advancing to the finals.
Hemingway spearheads the TWS Red Group and has a strong contingent of Baypark-registered competitors for company, including Kyle Benton, Caleb Ashton, Flynn Ashton, Kyle Ashton, Roigard, and Luke Alderice.
2016/17 North Island Champion Dale Robertson (Wellington) also joins the Red Group, as do the likes of Uhlenberg, and 2020 World 240s Champion Keegan Levien (Wellington).
Ethan Levien features in the Placemakers Blue Group, joined by former 1NZ Humphries, 2023/24 North Island Championship runner-up Kaelin Mooney, and Canterbury Glen Eagles stalwart Scott Tenant, the sole competitor from the South Island.
Stefan Roigard avoids a Friday match-up with his father, Dave, in joining the Blue Group.
Friday’s action will be complemented by a 28-strong Stockcar contingent, which includes current New Zealand Champion Caleb Ireland, and a 13-car TQ Midget lineup, which includes current 2NZ Regan Tyler. Thirteen Saloons will also do battle, which includes former two-time New Zealand Champion Jarred Fletcher. Rounding out Friday’s entry list is a field of eight Golden Oldies.
Twenty-three Streetstocks are on the bill for Saturday night, which also features thirteen Super Saloons, including current 2NZ Chris Cowling and Fletcher, seventeen F2 Midgets, and twenty Youth Ministocks.
Gates open at 2.30 pm on both days, with the action commencing at 4.30 pm. Gate sales will be available, or tickets can be purchased online.
For those unable to attend, a stream can be purchased through the Broadcast Co, with a package deal available at $60 for both nights.