The countdown is nearly over — Baypark Speedway is ready to kick off the 2025/26 season, and the excitement is electric! This Saturday, October 18th, marks our Practice Day, where drivers, teams, and fans get their first taste of the action that will set the tone for the season ahead.

Already, 60 cars are registered to take part, and with Sprintcars, Midgets, Superstocks, and Super Saloons, Ministocks and Stockcars all preparing to hit the clay, it promises to be a spectacular showcase of skill, speed, and adrenaline. For fans, it’s a rare opportunity to step inside the pit area, meet the teams, and see the cars up close before the engines roar in the late afternoon. And the best part? Fans can enter for free after 12pm, giving everyone the chance to soak in the atmosphere, check out the new liveries and upgraded cars, and get a sneak peek at what the season will bring.

For drivers and teams, practice day is about more than just showing off their machines — it’s the crucial first step in preparing for the high-stakes battles of the season. The off-season has seen countless hours of hard work: engines tuned, chassis adjusted, and teams strategising to gain every possible advantage. Now, with Practice Day on the horizon, all that preparation comes together as the cars hit the track, testing setups, experimenting with lines, and getting drivers back into rhythm.

The buzz around Baypark isn’t limited to the track. Opening Night: “Back to the Bay” is set for Saturday, October 25th, which also happens to be the first long weekend of the summer and is already shaping up to be a can’t-miss event. Excitement is building across Tauranga and beyond, with marketing campaigns in full swing: our back-of-the-bus advertising, digital billboards, and radio spots launching next week on major stations are ensuring everyone knows that the place for pace is ready to fire up once more. Registrations for M-registered drivers have been coming in fast, showing just how eager competitors are to take part in what promises to be an action-packed season.

Practice Day also offers fans a unique chance to interact with the teams and drivers, ask questions, take photos, and even watch last-minute preparations that often go unseen on race nights. For new fans, it’s a perfect introduction to the thrills of speedway. For seasoned followers, it’s a chance to reconnect with the cars, crews, and characters that make Baypark Speedway one of New Zealand’s premier motorsport venues.

From the smell of fresh clay on the track to the sound of engines firing for the first time this season, Practice Day is the true start of the Baypark journey. Whether you’re a fan eager to see your favourite car in action, a family looking for an exciting afternoon out, or a racing enthusiast soaking in the pre-season atmosphere, there’s no better way to kick off the countdown to Opening Night.

Practice Day: Saturday, October 18th
Gates open: 12 pm (Free entry for fans)
Location: Baypark Speedway – The Place for Pace

Photos courtesy of The Write Angle Photography

Tickets to all events this season are now available at www.bayparkspeedway.co.nz