Alex Little of Lower Hutt and Paul Clarke of Dunedin won the headline classes on the opening day of Southern Thunder at Teretonga Park in Invercargill on Saturday, according to the event report. Early qualifying ran on a wet track before conditions improved for the final sessions. Apart from one brief shower during the programme, racing ran on a dry surface for the rest of the day.
Who won the super truck race?
Little was the provisional winner of the opening NAPA Auto Parts NZ Super Truck race, supported by Kings House Removals. He brought his Freightliner Century home one second clear of Auckland driver Troy Etting in a Kenworth W924, with Gisborne’s Troy Wheeler third in another Freightliner Century. The result continues Little’s strong run at Teretonga. The Lower Hutt driver has built a track record of winning trips to the south and made the most of the drying surface during the first race of the weekend. The Super Truck field drew a healthy crowd to the fences as the big rigs went to work. The category remains a favourite at Southern Thunder, offering close racing and a different kind of sound compared to the cars on the bill.
Mainland muscle car results and standings
Dunedin driver Paul Clarke qualified fastest and then won the Allied 24/7 Fuel Mainland Muscle Car race by 0.345 seconds after a tight run with Christchurch’s Brayden Phillips in a Chevrolet Monza. Rod Hayman of Saint Andrews in South Canterbury finished third in his Chevrolet Camaro. Series points leader Brian Scott of Dunedin did not start on Saturday after a mechanical issue. The setback affects the points picture with more races scheduled on Sunday. Mainland Muscle Cars brings together period-style V8 machinery with plenty of variety on the grid. The cars are quick, but the racing is about keeping older machinery honest over a full race distance.
What happened in the pre 78 classic saloons?
The Pre 78 Classic Saloons ran two races on Saturday. The first, a conventional grid start, was won by Bruce Farley of Nelson in a Vauxhall Viva, ahead of Shane Caughey of Moana in a MK1 Ford Escort and Invercargill’s Gregg Cooper in a Capri. The second outing was a handicap race that went to Gerald Hargreaves of Winchester in a Daimler. Jason Lambert of Christchurch finished second in a Ford Mustang, with Farley backing up his earlier win by taking third. Handicap formats are a staple in historic saloon racing. Faster cars start further back and chase through the field, which tends to produce close finishes if the calculations are right.
Why formula first return matters
Formula First made its first appearance at Teretonga Park since March 1996. Taupō driver Liam Nicholson marked the occasion by winning the opening race by a narrow margin from five-time champion and current championship leader Chris Symon of Palmerston North, with Liam Foster of Papatoetoe third. The class is often an entry point for single-seater drivers. Lightweight cars, low power and racecraft-focused grids mean gaps are slim and mistakes are costly, which explains the minimal margin in Saturday’s result. Bringing the class back to Invercargill adds variety to the Southern Thunder bill. For local spectators, it is a chance to see a national development category that usually races further north.
Club saloons and local names to watch
In the Noel McIntyre Drainage Club Saloons, Invercargill’s Harry Wilson won the opening race after setting the fastest qualifying time earlier in the day. The race was cut short by a red flag, with Dave McLean of Balfour second in a Honda Integra and Craig Allan of Invercargill third in a Nissan 180SX. Club Saloons at Teretonga traditionally draw a mix of cars and driver experience. Saturday was no different, and the shortened race means the class has unfinished business heading into Sunday. Local participation remains a strength of the Southland motorsport scene. The Southland Sports Car Club, which operates Teretonga Park, runs regular club days and national events that keep the calendar full through summer.
How were track conditions on saturday?
Qualifying began in the wet before the surface progressively dried. Teams faced a common call on tyre choice and setup as the grip level changed across sessions. Only one brief shower interrupted the race programme. With the track otherwise dry, lap times improved and the racing stayed clean through the afternoon. The shift from wet to dry rewarded drivers who read the surface well. It also meant early session times were not directly comparable to those set later in the day.
When does sunday racing start and how much are tickets?
Organisers say Sunday’s action starts at 10am with a full day of racing ahead. Tickets at the gate are $30 for adults, and children 14 and under are free when accompanied by an adult. Traffic is usually straightforward around Teretonga, but parking can fill close to the main gate before midday. Bringing a jacket and ear protection is sensible in Southland’s changeable weather and with trucks on the card. Southern Thunder sits within a busy southern sports period. In Dunedin, Forsyth Barr Stadium will host an All Blacks test for the first time in 2026, while Invercargill’s motorsport calendar continues to pull national series to the city. Participation numbers in other codes also remain strong this year. A recent report on the adaptive trail running series pointed to growing interest in events across the country. Venue operators in other sports are also making changes for fans. In the United States, Boston Legacy FC announced sensory rooms at Gillette Stadium for its opener, part of a trend toward more accessible matchday experiences. Teretonga Park remains a key stop on the national motorsport map. It is the world’s southernmost permanent motor racing circuit and has hosted national championships for decades. Southern Thunder’s first day packed in a range of classes for casual fans and regulars. Day two keeps the same mix, with Super Trucks, Muscle Cars, historic saloons, club fields and Formula First all back on track. The full programme runs from mid-morning through the afternoon. With several titles in play and weather set to settle, crews will look for clean races and points on Sunday.
