Motorsport
Invercargill’s Nieko Scoles – a star performer in the Toyota 86 Trophy Series over the winter – is locked in for the forthcoming Bridgestone GR86 Championship and will be one of the favourites for success in both the rookie and overall series points.
Scoles is an exciting prospect amongst the junior ranks of New Zealand motorsport, although he is still a little older than some at 16 years of age.
He debuted in the Bridgestone GR86 Championship last season, competing in the Highlands round which supported the New Zealand Grand Prix and it was enough to whet the appetite for a full assault on the grassroots Toyota 86 Trophy Series over last winter.
Nieko was hugely impressive and was in the hunt for the title until the last couple of laps of the final race of the season ultimately losing out to winner – and GR86 rival Taylor Mitchell.
He was runner up against the Hampton Downs Academy shoot-out to young gun and another GR86 rival this season, Miles Baker, but again it was a very close second. His performance was enough to secure some financial support from the Tony Quinn Foundation for the forthcoming season.
Scoles, though, is ready to be the top gun in both the rookie class and the overall competition in the championship when it gets underway at Taupo Motorsport Park in a couple of weekends.
“I really enjoyed racing in the Trophy Series, and yeah, I would have loved to take out the title, but that has just made me more determined to win this coming season,” he explained.
“I learned so much over the winter about actual racing, getting my elbows out and how to be fast and consistent,” he added. “All the things you need to do to be a contender in this championship.
“I’m ready, I’m happy with the car after the testing we have done, I’m ready in myself and I’m just excited about going racing.”
It’s been a productive winter for Scoles off the track too, securing a major new sponsor in Power Farming for his Mackenzie Motorsport-run car, alongside the Tony Quinn Foundation and regular backers Night N’ Day.
Picture 1
: Nieko Scoles could be a front runner this coming season.
Picture Joel Hanks
2026-2027 Bridgestone GR86 Championship
Round 1
– 13-15 November –
PTS Logistics
Season Opener
- Taupo International
Round 2
– 8-10 January -
Allied Petroleum International
- Hampton Downs International Circuit
Round 3
- 22-24 January -
Ascot Park Hotel International
- Teretonga Park
Round 4
– 29-31 January -
NAPA 71st New Zealand Grand Prix
- Highlands Motorsport Park
Round 5
– 25-28 February -
Alliance Services Grand Finale
- Hampton Downs National Circuit
Non-Championship
– May TBC –
Supercars
About the Repco NextGen NZ Motorsport Championship
The
Repco NextGen NZ Championship is Motorsport New Zealand’s Premier Race Championship series. It is focused on celebrating talent, developing drivers, captivating fans and being sustainable, successful and surprising.
The series is headlined by the Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy, Bridgestone GR86 Championship, Summerset GT New Zealand Championship, SP Tools TA2 New Zealand Championship, NZ Porsche Racing Championship, Nexen Tyre Mazda Racing Super Series, GTRNZ, BMW Race Driver Series, MSC Formula 5000, Historic Formula Atlantic & Formula Racing and the HVRA Historic Saloons & Heritage Touring Cars.
The third season of the Repco NextGen NZ Championship will span six spectacular events from November 2026 through February 2027.
After the opener at Taupo International Motorsport Park, the championship commences a four-event swing in January that includes back-to-back rounds at Hampton Downs, Taupo,
Teretonga (Invercargill) and the 71 st running of the NAPA New Zealand Grand Prix at Highlands Motorsport Park. The finale will be held at Hampton Downs at the end of February.
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