Round 5 of the 2024 RX8 Cup Series season will see the ‘Trans Tasman Drive Prize’ Winner Jared Pyke travel over to Australia to compete at Sydney Motorsport Park. The 36 year old Firefighter from Christchurch, New Zealand won the 2023/2024 Mazda Pro8 Championship earlier this year earning himself an all expenses paid drive in the Australian RX8 Cup Series. At the start of the 2024 RX8 Cup season, Ash McConchie from the Mazda Pro8 NZ series and owner of RX8 Cup Ric Shaw teamed up with this exciting plan to award the respective championship winners with a race overseas ‘Trans Tasman’ style with a prize of a free race.
The Mazda Pro8 Champion’s 23/24 winning season consisted of 1 round win, 4 round podiums, 8 race wins from the 19 and multiple fastest laps. Pyke won’t be travelling alone to Australia, with him he brings two of his BM Contracting Racing team mates, Ben Mcconochie and Cory Stewart. Mcconochie, (owner of BM contracting ltd) and Pyke have gone hammer and tong ever since racing motorbikes together and the 2024 Mazda Pro8 season was no different, every round they chased and hounded each other for every position and point. Ben will certainly be one to watch in the RX8 Cup. Stewart (also a FireFighter in Christchurch) finished 3rd overall in the Pro8 championship in only his second year running, showing some great speed and huge improvements throughout the season.
Pyke explained “Coming over to Australia, I’m looking forward to taking on this new challenge and to see what we can learn from some of the best drivers in the RX8 Industry. I’m excited to drive a car that’s set up different and looking forward to trying out the ABS peddle and seeing how deep we can get those braking markers. Most of all I am looking forward to getting the shorts, tshirts and jandals on at the track with the warmer weather”
Ric Shaw is excited to welcome the Kiwis across the ditch to be part of his five car team at SMSP. Ric said “I have raced with the Pro8 Series in New Zealand a couple of times and it is great to now see some of their drivers come over and race with us. Having the winner of the ‘Trans Tasman’ award join us is the icing on the cake as we move towards the end of another exciting season. The Kiwis will join a fantastic 21 car field at Sydney Motorsport Park next weekend lining up alongside the legendary John Bowe.
The RX8 Cup is excited to announce that there will be FREE ENTRY for all spectators next weekend. Come check out the action at Sydney Motorsport Park September 27-29.