GT New Zealand slides into a wet Hampton Downs for round two of the season as other dreams come to an end

Friday, February 03, 2023

The preliminary testing sessions of the GT New Zealand Series have already taken place as the series embarks upon its second round of their four-round season around the picturesque Hampton Downs racetrack, just south of Auckland on the North Island.

What’s better for us this time is that we now have TWO Aston Martin Racing Vantage GT8R’s to support as dirt track racer Joel Giddy and his Mach 1 Engineering team joins that of the full season Race Lab supported Stephen Harrison entry this time around.

The #16 Giddy car is also no stranger to the series as was raced by Shane Helms in the then named Super GT NZ Series alongside Harrison out of the Race Lab garage.

With wet weather welcoming the twenty-six car GT entry, there will be ground to make up for Harrison within the GT4 class after his domineering pace of last season was left lacking at the sun blessed opening meeting of the season at Highlands Park three weeks ago which has already left the #78 car seventh in class after the three opening races.

Giddy will also have to hone his GT racing skills to the available sessions before Saturdays opening thirty-minute race after reportedly only testing out his new stead once before committing to the remaining rounds of the series.

Whilst on the subject of New Zealand’s GT racing scene, it appears that we will not be seeing this former Tony Quinn owned Aston Martin Racing Vantage GT3 compete again any time soon as its present owner has listed it ‘for sale’ on Racecarsdirect.com.

Having been raced in last season’s North Island Endurance Series with drivers John Penny and Ronan Murphy, it appears that that relationship is now at an end and Penny is seeking to off-load his racing investment.

Full details can be found here at https://www.racecarsdirect.com/Advert/Details/134768/2019-aston-martin-vantage-gt3

Photo credits – GT New Zealand / RaceCar Direct