Gisborne Gladiators out to emulate clubmates at NZ Stockcar Teams Champs

Bryce Simpson is part of a strong Gisborne Gladiators team vying for glory at the NZ Stockcar Teams Championship in Rotorua. Photo / Angus Bodle

The Gisborne Gladiators are primed for a huge effort this weekend at the NZ Stockcar Teams Championship in Rotorua.

After the title-winning performance of the Gisborne Giants at the NZ Superstock Teams Championship, the Gladiators give themselves a good chance of success.

Paradise Valley Raceway in Rotorua will host 13 teams from across the country in the championship, which starts with qualifying on Friday night.

The W.G. Geuze Contracting Gisborne Gladiators team for the event is Tim Ross (44G), Haydin Barker (84G), Brad McGee (96G), Bryce Simpson (98G), Asher Rees (126G) and Ethan Rees (127G).

“We’ve definitely got a good team to emulate the Gisborne Giants,” Ethan Rees said.

The Rees brothers, Ross and McGee were in the Giants team that won the national superstocks crown in Palmerston North last month.

“The team feeling is good, with a good bunch of experience and youth in it,” Rees said.

The Gladiators meet the Cromwell Coyotes first up on Friday night, followed by the Wellington Young Guns.

The Rotorua Rascals go in as the defending champions.

“They are definitely a good team and will be tough for whoever comes across them,” Rees said.

The top eight teams on Friday night go into the quarter-finals on Saturday, followed by the semi-finals and final.

“It’s definitely a tough draw for us,” Rees said. “But we have a good squad and hopefully we can get past our opposition and make Saturday’s quarter-finals.”

The Gisborne Gladiators have won the national teams’ title twice.

They defeated Wellington Young Guns in the final in the 2014-15 season in Rotorua and went back-to-back in beating Tasman Thunder in the 2015-16 final in Gisborne.

They were third in 2010-11, 2016-17 and 2018-19.