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Images: Stuart Whittaker (The Write Angle)
Baypark Speedway action returns after a month-long break with a triple header of title competition set for the Battle of the Bay meeting on Saturday night.
The classes in the trophy spotlight will be the Formula 2 Midget Cars, Stock Cars and Sprint Cars, while Super Stock racing is also on the programme.
Last summer, Baypark Speedway staged an inaugural and unofficial national title for the F2 Midgets, which is currently recognised as a regional class by the Speedway NZ governing body.
It proved a keenly sought prize for the growing category and the Aotearoa F2 Midget crown is up for grabs for the second time this weekend with a 21-car field drawn from the Auckland and Baypark tracks.
Baypark’s James Earl is the defending F2 champion while Dion Kendall – the runner-up last season – also returns for another title campaign.
The third-place finisher last year was Holly Russell, but she is now racing in Australia.
The BSL Racing car she drove will have top Midget Car racer Luke McClymont behind the wheel.
An entry from Sprint Car driver and former NZ Mini Sprint champion Christian Hermansen adds further interest.
The 2025-26 season pace-setter for the class has been Aucklander Troy Jeffries with his Honda-powered car while Brynn Jackson and Tylar Browne have delivered some strong feature race drives at Baypark this summer.
A strong line-up of visiting Auckland and Rotorua Stock Car drivers will race against the Baypark home-track drivers for the annual Harry Fredrickson Memorial Gold Cup.
Last years’ winner Karl Garnett isn’t returning but podium finishers Sam Wright and Jordan Latham from Auckland are back for another shot at Baypark’s major annual Stock Car trophy.
The fastest Stock Car driver at Baypark this season has been Chloe Ingram, while the entry of Waihi Super Stock racer Ross Ashby in a borrowed car will add some more interest to the field.
The intensity also ramps up for Sprintcar fans with the Bay of Plenty Champs attracting a 20-strong field – the largest seen in the North Island this summer.
The line-up is headlined by the return of Hamilton’s Daniel Thomas who won his second New Zealand title at Cromwell last month and the first Baypark appearance this summer for Wellington hard charger Stephen Taylor.
The grid also includes former New Zealand champions Rodney Wood, Jonathan Allard, Jamie Larsen and Michael Pickens, along with early season feature race winners Ryan O’Connor and Keaton Dahm, providing impressive depth for the 25-lap BOP title race.
Racing starts at 6.30pm.