Images: Graham Hughes
The spectacular summer of Superstock racing continues at The Toolshed Paradise Valley Speedway in Rotorua this weekend, with the annual Global Invitational ‘World 240s’ Superstock Championship, even though the weather continues to be an unwanted distraction.
Adverse weather has battered the upper North Island, including the Bay of Plenty, in recent days.
Just like last weekend for the New Zealand Superstock Championship in Wellington, drivers and supporters alike will be hoping for a favourable turn in conditions to ensure the event proceeds as planned.
A group of familiar overseas drivers, including the most successful non-New Zealand competitor in the event’s history, Great Britain’s Frankie Wainman Jnr, have been automatically seeded to the finals.
Wainman Jnr, a three-time former winner of the title, is joined by son Frankie Wainman Jnr Jnr, and compatriots Charlie Sworder and Karl Hawkins. Dutch driver Rick Wobbes has also been given a pass through to the final.
As a result of last year’s efforts, defending champion Josh Prentice, and the deemed winner of last year’s second tier event, Whanganui’s Hayden Hart, have been given a golden ticket to the finals.
The remaining 19 finalists will be determined from the top four finishers over four tough qualifying groups, with a further three drivers coming from a “last chance” repechage at the start of the finals night.
Qualifying at the event is arguably the toughest for the entire season, given the limited number of drivers progressing from each group, and the tight Rotorua track which promises to bring close, action packed Superstock racing.
Winner of this season’s North Island Superstock Championship in Kihikihi, Woodford Glen contracted Scott Tennant headlines the Green group. Tennant was well placed heading into his final qualifying race at last weekend’s New Zealand Superstock Championship before striking poor luck. The third place finisher at last year’s World 240s has form at Rotorua and will be looking to make up for last weekend’s disappointment.
Two-time former World 240s winner, Scott Joblin, has also been starting to find top pace at the right time this season, and will be looking to replicate his previous success at the event. Wellington’s Dale Robertson has been a standout this season and will be another to watch in the group.
Fresh off his victory at the New Zealand Superstock Championship after an epic runoff against Ethan Rees, Whanganui contracted Brad Uhlenberg leads the Blue group. Uhlenberg is in the form of his life, having also placed third at the Superstock Grand Prix in Stratford a fortnight ago.
Former World 240s winner from the 2019-20 season, Wellington’s Keegan Levien, will be confident of at least making the top four qualifiers in the group, given his recent affiliation with the number.
Three-time former New Zealand Superstock Championship winner Asher Rees, and former 1NZ Stockcar and Superstock Teams Championship standout Jayden Ward, will also be favoured to find themselves at the top end of the field.
Last weekend’s runner-up at the New Zealand Superstock Championship, Ethan Rees, will be the key driver to watch in the Red group. Rees is also a former winner of the World 240s in the 2022-23 season and one of the most consistent drivers in the country. He finished runner-up at the World 240s last season.
Simon Joblin, three time former World 240s winner, also finds himself in the group and cannot be discounted from a strong performance this weekend. Shared with Wainman Jnr, Joblin holds the record for the most victories in the event’s history.
Outgoing 1NZ and 2NZ, Mount Maunganui’s Todd Hemingway and Wellington’s Ethan Levien, are both in the group and will be looking to avenge their results from the previous weekend.
Finally, the impressive William Humphries, who placed third at last weekend’s New Zealand Superstock Championship, will be most favoured to progress from the Yellow group. Humphries is in excellent form, having just missed out on winning this season’s Superstock Grand Prix before a late runoff loss to Hamish Booker.
Superstock “Grand Slam” holder, Peter Rees, is a near perpetual presence in the finals of major Superstock championships. Rees won the World 240s in the 2010-11 season and alongside Simon Joblin, they are the only drivers in the field to have completed the set of a New Zealand Championship, Grand Prix, Island title, and World 240s victory.
The group also includes Elias Dykstra, who won the North Island Superstock Championship in Rotorua in the 2023-24 season, and three time former South Island Superstock Championship winner, Nelson’s Alex Hill.
As if that wasn’t enough, the most prestigious title for female Stockcar drivers, the Aotearoa Ladies Stockcar Crown, will take place over the course of the weekend. Last year’s winner, Brittany Carpenter, will be hopeful of defending her title.
With adverse weather conditions continuing to plague the country, Friday’s proceedings have been brought forward to 6.15 pm, while Saturday’s running remains at 6.30 pm.
Social media posts show Paradise Valley Speedway has largely escaped the adverse weather, but there remains a strong potential of rain.
Readers are advised to monitor the Rotorua StockCar Club Facebook page for any new updates.