Nexen Tyre NZ Mazda Racing Series competitors and officials gathered in Tauranga recently to celebrate the achievements of a very successful 2022/2023 season. Championship winners received their silverware, other achievements were marked and two new Life Memberships were awarded.
The series features a National Championship and respective North and South Island Championships and the winners of each were acknowledged.
Wellington driver Simon Baker was crowned National Champion for the season, taking that title ahead of young rookie, Chris White Junior of Prebbleton near Christchurch, and Warren Crowther of Auckland. Rex Edwards of Tauranga won the North Island Championship from Baker with Masterton competitor, Matthew Horne third. White Junior won the South Island title with Matt Dodd of Christchurch the runner-up and Shane Paget of Rangiora third.
Baker also took out the Masters Title in the North Island Championship with Paget taking that honour in the South while Crowther was the North Island Rookie of the Year and White Junior took that accolade in the south.
The Tauranga Automotive Team of brother’s, Rex and Terry Edwards, claimed the Team Of The Year award contested in conjunction with the North Island Championship.
Elton Wichman of Auckland took the Craig Casey Memorial Award for outstanding service to the class, highlighted when he stood up to act as Secretary for the series when the role became vacant during the year. Matt Dodd’s presentation of his car throughout the season brought him recognition by way of the Coachwork Of The Year Award while Karl Gaines was adjudged the Sportsperson Of The Year. Gaines has been a constant presence offering to help and give advice, particularly to younger drivers.
Lindsay Dodd received the Volunteer Of The Year Award for the second year in succession as he continues to spend an enormous amount of time working for the category especially away from the track while he also assisted Elton Wichman when he became Secretary.
Steven Spear of Auckland was the Personality Of The Year, due to his very relaxed approach making him fun to be around while Elton Wichman and Wayne Murray shared the Supporter Of The Year Award, Wichman for providing a car for Flynn Mullany and his work with ECU’s during the year and stepping up to be Secretary and Murray for his outstanding work for Cello Racing. James Parker was named Promoter Of The Year for his support, including the Premier Insulation Pole Award at each round.
Two new Life Memberships were awarded – the first to Phil Blythe who has had a long association with the series and was the North Island Pro 7 Champion in 2007/2008 and runner-up in 2008/2009 while he was third in the National Championship in 2008/2009. The other went to outgoing Chairman, Leo Bult. Bult had been Chairman of the series for six years and drove in the series the last few years. He was responsible for finance and numbers in the series and built seventeen RX8’s for competition in the series.
With Bult stepping down from the Chairman position Steven Spear of Auckland has stepped up into the role and Lindsay Dodd of Christchurch has moved into Spear’s former role as Secretary and Deputy Chairman for the series.
The series will announce their calendar for the 2023/2024 season in the near future.
NEXEN TYRE NZ MAZDA RACING SERIES AWARDS 2022/2023 SEASON
National Championship
- 1st Place. Simon Baker
- 2nd Place. Chris White Jnr
- 3rd Place. Warren Crowther
North Island Championship
- 1st Place. Rex Edwards
- 2nd Place. Simon Baker
- 3rd Place. Matthew Horne
South Island Championship
- 1st Place. Chris White Jnr
- 2nd Place. Matt Dodd
- 3rd Place. Shane Paget
North Island Master
- Simon Baker
South Island Master
- Shane Paget
North Island Rookie
- Warren Crowther
South Island Rookie
- Chris White Jnr
North Island Team of the Year
- Tauranga Automotive
Special Awards
- Craig Casey Memorial – Elton Wichman
- Coachwork of the Year – Matt Dodd
- Sportsperson of the Year – Karl Gaines
- Volunteer of the Year – Lindsay Dodd
- Personality of the Year – Steven Spear
- Supporter of the Year – Elton Wichman/Wayne Murray
- Promoter of the Year – James Parker
Life Members
- Phil Blythe
- Leo Bult
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