Hawke's Bay athlete Briana Stephenson chasing heptathlon goals in Europe
The big start at the weekend came at the World Athletics Combined Events Tour
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Scoop
a day ago
- Scoop
Hitech Confirm Team For New Zealand
Hitech – one of the best-known international single-seater motorsport teams – has today confirmed it will field a three-car team in the 2026 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy. The team will enter as Hitech TGR, embarking on a long-term commitment to the New Zealand-based championship. It becomes the sixth team competing in the FR Oceania Trophy alongside Giles Motorsport, Kiwi Motorsport, M2 Competition, mtec Motorsport and recently confirmed HMD Motorsport with TJ Speed for 2026. Hitech's first full campaign was a three-car entry in the 2016 FIA Formula 3 European championship, and they have since expanded into FIA Formula 2, FIA Formula 3, GB3, British Formula 4, Formula Winter Series and F1 Academy. The team has also competed in the Formula Regional European, Asian, and Middle East series, and in 2019 Hitech was selected by the FIA to operate the full grid of cars in the former W Series, which utilised similar chassis to those used in New Zealand. The team's record of success across the single-seater categories is impressive and former drivers include George Russell, Alex Palou, Liam Lawson, Isack Hadjar, Marcus Armstrong, Dennis Hauger, Sebastian Montoya, Jack Doohan and Juri Vips. The team currently sits third in the FIA F2 Teams' Standings with Luke Browning and Dino Beganovic, and is leading the British F4 Championship for a second successive season. Hitech has previously entrusted a number of its drivers to the New Zealand championship to further their development. Consolidating its commitment to the series was a natural step for the team as it continues to extend its presence in key international junior single-seater categories and series. "We are excited to be joining the Castrol Toyota FR Oceania Trophy with an official three-car Hitech entry from the 2026 season,' confirmed Hitech GB3 Team Manager Phil Blow, who will head up the New Zealand effort. 'In recent years, we have sent Hitech drivers to the series for off-season mileage and to gain further experience, but as the championship continues to go from strength to strength, the time is right for us to have a fully-fledged Hitech team in New Zealand. 'As ever, we look forward to the competition, and to providing three young drivers in the region with the opportunity to gain a foothold on the junior single-seater ladder and begin their progression.' The news follows confirmation recently that US outfit HMD Motorsport with TJ Speed will join the 2026 championship and follows a raft of changes to the series to make it easier for Northern hemisphere teams and drivers to take part in the entire championship and not face date clashes with testing for other series. 'This is the sixth team for the 2026 championship and is another with an exceptionally high profile and track record in international motorsport, so this is only good news for the championship," commented TOYOTA GAZOO Racing New Zealand motorsport manager Nicolas Caillol. 2026 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy Rd1 - 9-11 January - Hampton Downs International Motorsport Park Rd2 - 16-18 January - Taupo International Motorsport Park Rd3 - 23-25 January - Teretonga Raceway, Invercargill
RNZ News
5 days ago
- RNZ News
Golf: Steven Alker on top after opening round of Senior Open
Steven Alker holds a one shot lead after the opening round of the Senior British Open. Photo: David Berding / Getty Images / AFP New Zealand's Steven Alker has a one shot lead after the opening round of the Senior British Open at Sunningdale in Berkshire. Alker, who turns 54 on Monday, is bidding to win his second Senior major title on the European tour, three years on from his first at the Senior PGA Championship. Alker carded a seven-under-par 63, including six birdies and an eagle, to sit one shot ahead of Australia's Mark Hensby. Defending champion KJ Choi of South Korea is tied for third at four under par. "I was just efficient today," said Alker. "Drove it in the fairway when I needed to and iron play was solid and just made some putts, especially on the back nine, just kind of kept things rolling. "I bogeyed seven and after that, I just got a bit of momentum and kept it going." Alker is making his first competitive appearance at Sunningale since competing in a boys amateur championship in 1988. "So it's been a long time but it has not changed much at all," he said. "I recognised about five I just love the walk. I knew I was coming to a special place with some good vibes. - RNZ
1News
21-07-2025
- 1News
The big winners from the first three All Blacks Tests of the year
Analysis: Lock Fabian Holland was the best of the new crop, while a super-sub midfielder proved he is too valuable for the bench, writes Patrick McKendry. The hard data on the first three Tests of the year is in for All Blacks coach Scott Robertson, who will have seen several newcomers repay his faith, including Fabian Holland and Du'Plessis Kirifi, and several veterans enhance their reputations, most obviously Beauden Barrett and younger brother Jordie. Holland, the 22-year-old Netherlands-born lock with one of the better backstories at this level, looked every inch the international second-rower over three 80-minute Tests, with Kirifi displaying an impressive maturity in adapting to his late call-up to start Saturday's 29-19 victory over France in Hamilton. Beauden Barrett's stocks, meanwhile, probably rose after the weekend despite not being involved in the Test due to a hand fracture which Robertson is confident will heal in time for the start of the Rugby Championship next month. Barrett brought a calmness to the first two Tests that was not evident at Waikato Stadium under Damian McKenzie's stewardship, although that should be mitigated by the experimental look to the All Blacks line-up which clearly exacerbated the lack of cohesion. ADVERTISEMENT There is no doubt either than Jordie is by far the nation's best second-five and, if anything, his sabbatical at Irish club Leinster appears to have moulded him into a more complete Test player. Used to running against big European defenders, Jordie, who replaced Quinn Tupaea ahead of the final quarter, was the perfect player to break down the stubborn French resistance due to his willingness to charge headlong into metaphorical brick walls. It took bravery to consistently do that and also sent a message that Jordie, a late inclusion to the bench due to Rieko Ioane's hamstring issue on the eve of the match, was a threat every time he got the ball. It was Jordie's decisiveness to take on France replacement lock Romain Taofifenua – all 2.0m and 135kg of him – which led to Brodie McAlister's game-sealing try. His scramble back on defence to close out the flying Emilien Gailleton in the corner when his team was defending a 22-19 lead should not be underestimated either. Jordie Barrett, left, and brother Beauden after the first Test in Dunedin. (Source: Photosport) Tupaea, in his first Test in three years, appeared stretched at times as he re-adjusted to the pace of Test rugby. The All Blacks squad dispersed yesterday but one of Tupaea's review clips will likely feature an attack in the first half when his side, trailing 10-16 at the time, won excellent ball from a quick lineout in their own territory and McKenzie found him in a lot of space with Anton Lienert-Brown, Ruben Love and Will Jordan outside him. ADVERTISEMENT It was a four-on-two situation but, rather than exploit that with the array of attacking talent at his disposal, Tupaea cut back in, was tackled, and then penalised for not releasing the ball. French captain Gael Fickou showed his experience at the breakdown by coming in from the side and disrupting the All Blacks' support players. Robertson was clearly happy with the impact of his bench in Hamilton, and rightly so given the physicality of prop George Bower, hooker Brodie McAlister and loose forward Dalton Papali'i, but Jordie made the largest contribution and a problem for the head coach is that the 28-year-old is too valuable to be on the bench for the biggest Tests. Veteran hooker Codie Taylor's performances over the first two Tests also underlined his importance to the side, while Ardie Savea, installed as captain after Scott Barrett's calf tear in Dunedin, was his usual inspirational self. Will Jordan, who scored his 41st Test try in his 43rd Test at the weekend, is clearly the nation's best outside back – no matter where he plays in the back three. A word, too, on Tupou Vaa'i, the converted blindside flanker who was missed by his team in Hamilton. He may have been a reluctant convert from lock when first asked to play in the black No.6 jersey at the 2023 World Cup but he proved in Dunedin and Wellington that he has the instincts to excel there. With prop Tamaiti Williams (knee) and Wallace Sititi (ankle) to return, the All Blacks' pack will feature, power, pace and creativity for the upcoming Tests against Argentina, South Africa and Australia, starting with the Pumas in Cordoba on August 17. ADVERTISEMENT Look out, too, for the inclusion of the returning Leicester Fainga'anuku, a midfielder or wing who possesses all of the above qualities, for the Rugby Championship squad of 36 that Robertson will name on August 4.
