Dirt, Dust, and wheel rubbing at Off-road Nationals this weekend

Drivers will battle it out on track this weekend, March 20. Image: Justin Williams. 

Wheels will touch, dirt will fly, and the crowd will cheer at the drivers battling it out at the off-roading national series this weekend.

Drivers from Auckland, Taranaki, Hawkes Bay and right here in the Bay of Plenty, will gather in Tauranga this weekend for the first round of the JG Civil ORANZ 2021 National Series.

More than 40 drivers at this weekend’s racing will see the Waikato Offroad Racing Club’s track at TECT Park be the hub for the first round, with the short course racing happening from 10 am on Saturday, March 20.

With Covid-levels changing at the start of the month, organisers are relieved and positive that this will be a good outing for all. Drivers are also looking forward to getting back behind the wheel, and competing for national points, as the series – among other sporting events throughout the country got cancelled due to the global pandemic.

Many hard, long hours have gone into the track prep, with work starting on the track early last year. Many club members of the Waikato Offroad Racing Club have gotten together to allow for machinery to get to the track so the big improvements can be made, and are looking forward to seeing how other drivers who haven’t raced on the track before go and what their thoughts on it are.

Vehicles of all kinds will be hitting the racetrack, and vary in size, and sound. The ages of the drivers also age as well, with 7- and 8-year-olds racing, to some drivers in their mid-60s. There will be UTV’s, Pro-lites, trucks, buggies, as well as the kids Kiwitruck class.

This weekend will also see many father/son duos racing out on the track. Many of the children will be racing in either the Kiwitruck or C and 7 classes, while the Dad’s will be racing in classes such as S&U – the UTV classes and Class 8 which is the truck class.

For some drivers, this will be the first outing for a while, with some making their debut in their new car, which will make for some exciting viewing as they get the handle of the car, the track and the other competitors around them.

Gates will open at 7 am on Saturday, March 20 with the first race starting at 10 am. It is $20 per person or $40 per family.

For more information about the event, visit the Waikato Off-road Racing Facebook page.