AutoAction
FREE DIGITAL MAGAZINE SIGN UP

BRIDGESTONE BACKS BIG GR86 NZ SEASON

By Thomas Miles

Date posted: 11 October 2024

The stage is set for a big GR86 Championship in New Zealand this summer with Bridgestone returning as the title sponsor and a Supercars round confirmed.

The 2024/25 Bridgestone GR86 Championship will begin at Taupo at the end of November and also wrap up at the same circuit when the Supercars arrive in April.

Thanks to the deal both the GR86 and the forthcoming Toyota 86 Trophy series will run on the Potenza RE-71RS semi-slick tyre.

It will be the first season with the new generation car and TGRNZ Motorsport Manager Nicolas Caillol is looking forward to an exciting season.

“The RE-71RS has performed exceptionally well during the testing programme for the new GR86 and will bring out the best in the car, which is quicker and more focussed on track performance than the old car,” he said.

“The Toyota 86 Championship had a rich history of producing great racing and great talent and this will continue with the Bridgestone GR86 Championship. 

“Having a common tyre in both the GR86 Championship and the Toyota 86 Trophy Series will also provide valuable continuity for developing drivers looking to step from the TR86 to the new GR86.”

Bridgestone Director of New Zealand Business, John Staples, believes the GR86 Championship will be a great platform for the brand.

“We’re excited to be the title partner of the Bridgestone GR86 Championship because motorsport is deeply embedded in our company’s heritage,” Staples said. 

“The series has a highly engaged fanbase and plays such a pivotal role in launching the careers of Kiwi racers.

“We’re looking forward to sharing the passion with the teams and drivers, and also using the undeniable synergy between Bridgestone and TOYOTA GAZOO Racing New Zealand to showcase our Potenza range of performance tyres, and in particular, the Potenza RE-71RS semi slick the championship will utilise.”

The championship will take some of the sport’s biggest rising stars in New Zealand all around the country from the north to the south island.

In addition to the trips to Taupo, Hampton Downs also hosts two rounds.

A trip to Teretonga Park arrives in February, whilst it will be part of the support program for the 69th New Zealand Grand Prix at Highlands a week later.

2024/25 GR86 Championship

Round 1: 22-24 November 2024, Taupo International Motorsport Park

Round 2: 17-19 January 2025, Hampton Downs Motorsport Park (International Layout)

Round 3: 31 Jan – 2 February 2025, Teretonga Park, Invercargill

Round 4: 7 – 9 February 2025, Highlands Motorsport Park,  69th New Zealand Grand Prix

Round 5: 21-23 March 2025, Hampton Downs Motorsport Park (National Layout)

Round 6: 11-13 April 2025, Taupo International Motorsport Park – Supercars

Shares

Recent Stories

array (
  0 => 
  WP_Term::__set_state(array(
     'term_id' => 11,
     'name' => 'Latest News',
     'slug' => 'latest-news',
     'term_group' => 0,
     'term_taxonomy_id' => 11,
     'taxonomy' => 'category',
     'description' => '',
     'parent' => 0,
     'count' => 16519,
     'filter' => 'raw',
     'cat_ID' => 11,
     'category_count' => 16519,
     'category_description' => '',
     'cat_name' => 'Latest News',
     'category_nicename' => 'latest-news',
     'category_parent' => 0,
  )),
  1 => 
  WP_Term::__set_state(array(
     'term_id' => 6414,
     'name' => 'New Zealand',
     'slug' => 'new-zealand',
     'term_group' => 0,
     'term_taxonomy_id' => 6414,
     'taxonomy' => 'category',
     'description' => '',
     'parent' => 0,
     'count' => 44,
     'filter' => 'raw',
     'cat_ID' => 6414,
     'category_count' => 44,
     'category_description' => '',
     'cat_name' => 'New Zealand',
     'category_nicename' => 'new-zealand',
     'category_parent' => 0,
  )),
  2 => 
  WP_Term::__set_state(array(
     'term_id' => 2029,
     'name' => 'ZZZ-Email',
     'slug' => 'email',
     'term_group' => 0,
     'term_taxonomy_id' => 2029,
     'taxonomy' => 'category',
     'description' => '',
     'parent' => 2031,
     'count' => 7077,
     'filter' => 'raw',
     'cat_ID' => 2029,
     'category_count' => 7077,
     'category_description' => '',
     'cat_name' => 'ZZZ-Email',
     'category_nicename' => 'email',
     'category_parent' => 2031,
  )),
  3 => 
  WP_Term::__set_state(array(
     'term_id' => 2031,
     'name' => 'ZZZ-RSSFeeds',
     'slug' => 'zzz-rssfeeds',
     'term_group' => 0,
     'term_taxonomy_id' => 2031,
     'taxonomy' => 'category',
     'description' => '',
     'parent' => 0,
     'count' => 6432,
     'filter' => 'raw',
     'cat_ID' => 2031,
     'category_count' => 6432,
     'category_description' => '',
     'cat_name' => 'ZZZ-RSSFeeds',
     'category_nicename' => 'zzz-rssfeeds',
     'category_parent' => 0,
  )),
)
89415
Kostecki qualifies on pole

Kostecki gets DJR back to the front of the grid

DJR is back at the top with Brodie Kostecki taking pole and teammate Will Davison third in qualifying for the 2025 Townsville 500 opener. Kostecki took his first pole at […]

Tim Miles farewelled

MPC battles emotions to race for Tim

Emotions were high at Sandown this weekend as the SpeedSeries community farewelled popular driver Tim Miles, and those within the Melbourne Performance Centre garage were hit the hardest. Miles raced […]

Valtteri Bottas and Kimi Antonelli

BOTTAS CLOSES ON CADILLAC DEAL

Valtteri Bottas and Cadillac allegedly agreed terms during the British Grand Prix weekend, but there was no announcement of the deal because the Finnish driver hasn’t yet signed on the […]

Lando Norris, McLaren, celebrates pole position in parc fermé after Qualifying at the 2025 F1 Belgian GP.

Norris leads McLaren front row lockout for Belgian GP

McLaren will start the Belgian Grand Prix from the front row, with Lando Norris outpacing Oscar Piastri in a session defined by close calls, missed opportunities, and the looming threat […]