White sets opening practice pace

Taupo International Motorsport Park may have been overcast this morning, but Bridgestone GR86 Championship leader Chris White got his final weekend off to a solid start with the fastest time in opening practice.

White was quickly into the groove in his Neale Motorsport Car, despite having an early spin in the session when he was caught out trying to take a little bit more of the freshly painted Taupo kerbs than they would give.

White’s pace after that minor early error was very good, however, and he ended the session with seven laps under his belt and an advantage of two tenths of a second over second fastest Ajay Giddy – who always goes well around the Taupo track.

Reigning champion Hugo Allan – who sits third in the championship battle currently – also looked strong on his first laps around the very green track and was only a few hundredths of a second behind Giddy.

Right Karts by M2 Competition’s top driver in the title fight, Josh Bethune, looked ominous in fourth place. Behind him the resurgent Justin Allen – enjoying a much better second half of the championship than the first – was fast too. Fifth in the session could perhaps have been a fraction higher had he not lost a lap or two after avoiding White’s spin.

White’s major challenger Zac Blincoe was a solid sixth for Mackenzie Motorsport with Harry Townshend, Mac Templeton, an impressive Lucas McGill and another title contender – Arthur Broughan, rounding out the top ten.

Another practice session follows later in the day before qualifying later in the afternoon.

2025-2026 Bridgestone GR86 Championship – Round 6 Taupo – Practice 1