Baypark Speedway opens the 2024-25 season with new challenges and new driver lineups.

Tauranga’s Luke McClymont, who won the North Island Midget Car title in his rookie year, has a new opportunity with the BSL Racing team. He’s driving an Esslinger-powered Terra chassis and has already done some fast practice laps.

And teen sprint car winner and Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia newcomer Ayrton Hodson (Katikati) secured entry into the four-car sprint race from Team HLR. The move opens up the chance for Hodson’s younger brother Cruise to move from six shooters to sprint cars with the family team.

Changing classes is former New Zealand small car champion Hayden Williams, who will be among Ayrton Hodson’s teammates in the HLR Sprint Car operation, while Hamilton’s Benjamin Matthews is also moving up to sprint cars after several seasons in the small car ranks.

International interest is heightened by opening night, when Australian teenage racer Zoe Pearce makes her first appearance at Baypark in preparation for the International Small Car Series over the Christmas and New Year season.

Pearce, 18, is originally from Melbourne and raced in the United States earlier this year, finishing in the top 10 at Midwestern tracks in the PowRi National Midget Series.

Sprint cars and midgets will be the hallmark of the premiere, along with a strong grid of 26 super promotions at the start of the season.

The field of 24 sprint car entries is led by former national champions Daniel Thomas, Rodney Wood, Michael Pickens, Dean Brindle and Jamie Larsen, with Baypark driver Max Guilford returning from a busy US campaign.

There are 22 small car competitors entered for the opening night, including national champion Brad Mosen, as well as Brock Maskovich and Mitch Fabish, fully representing the current 1NZ, 2NZ and 3NZ title holders.

Pickens is another star attraction pulling double duty in the subcompact and sprint car classes. He has made an early start to his summer campaign by competing in sprint cars in Australia, while newcomers to the midget class are Rotorua’s Terence Dorrell and Ben Vaughan, who moved up from the TQ midget and mini-sprint sections respectively.

The opening night program also includes a grid of 18 cars and 6 shooters, and 24 young drivers have registered for the first night of the youth mini-event.

Racing will start at 6.30pm, with October 27th reserved as an alternative if necessary.