2026 New Zealand 1:10 EP Onroad C/ship – Report

The 2026 NZRCA 1:10 EP Onroad New Zealand Championship, presented by Power HD, concluded last weekend, and while entry numbers were modest, the intensity on the track was at an all-time high, with seven classes of competition providing world-class door-to-door action.  Gael Bueno Ware was the man to beat in the premier classes, securing a “double-double” by taking the TQ and overall win in both Modified and 13.5 Touring.  In Modified Touring, the Yokomo teammate duo of Bueno Ware and Logan Toia put on a masterclass.  The highlight of the weekend was a thrilling A2 main where Toia pushed Bueno Ware to the absolute limit. The race was decided by a final-lap dash to the line in what was described by many as the race of the event. Toia would settle for second, with Simon Noton piloting his Tamiya TRF 421 to the final podium spot.  Bueno Ware repeated his dominance in 13.5 Touring Stock. Despite a strong challenge from recent standout Will Sloane, Gael’s consistency proved insurmountable. Sloane showed impressive pace as a class debutant, but a series of errors allowed the veteran to pull away. Kenley Brown rounded out the podium in third.

In the weekend’s most competitive field of 21.5 Touring Stock, Mark Harling made the trip from the South Island count. Harling was in a league of his own during qualifying, claiming the TQ by taking all but one round. He carried that momentum into Sunday, securing the title by the end of A2.  Local favourites Jamie Holmes and Gavin Dawson engaged in a spirited battle for the remaining podium spots, with Holmes eventually securing second overall.

Will Sloane found redemption in the FWD Touring class, securing the TQ before heading into the mains. After a season-long battle, it came down to a three-way fight between Sloane, Logan Toia, and Colin Storey. A DNF for Toia in the deciding A3 final cleared the path for Sloane to take the title.

In Formula 1, Gavin Dawson successfully defended his title starting from the P1 spot. After securing the TQ, he faced a major challenger in Xray’s Kenley Brown.  Brown arrived with a brand-new build and pushed Dawson to the final buzzer in every leg.  Brown’s rapid improvement throughout the weekend secured him second, ahead of Jamie Holmes.

The return of the M-Chassis class saw Craig Pullar sweep the event, taking both the TQ and the overall win after a tight showdown with Stephen Li.  Meanwhile, the Hypercar Demo Class—running a Reedy Race format—was a hit with fans.  Kenley Brown took the win in the spec-motor category, while Richard Pease and David Harris turned heads with concours-level scale detailing on their Lamborghini entries.  The event was held at a world-class facility, overseen by Race Director Richard Price, ensuring a professional atmosphere for the first major on-road event of the 2026 season.

Thanks to Darryl Maslin for report