The NAPA Auto Parts New Zealand Super Truck Championship pays its annual visit to Teretonga Park in Invercargill this weekend of 16/17 March with a lot of interest as to whether Lower Hutt driver Alex Little can win the Mobil Delvac 1 Trophy for the sixth time. 

Little first won the trophy in 2018 and has won it every year since, apart from 2020 when the event was cancelled due to the nationwide lockdown. The trophy is awarded to the driver that wins the round each time the championship visits Teretonga Park.

Last year Little, a two-time National Champion, driving his Freightliner 3 Series won the first race of the round and went on to record a third and a second placing to secure the top step of the podium. He also set a new lap record of 1 minute 14.266 seconds during the weekend. Second for the round was South Canterbury driver Brent ‘Bones’ Collins in a similar Freightliner.

Collins returns to do battle this year while Shane Gray of Wellington is another who will be competitive in a Kenworth as will Dave West of Pukekohe who has gone well at Teretonga Park in recent years in his Freightliner Argosy.

Former four-time Champion Ron Salter of Auckland is also in the field in a Scania while 2006/07 and 2013/14 Super Truck Champion John Hepburn of Timaru is entered in the Flying Farewell as is a former three-time Champion – Malcolm Little, father of Alex Little – and local favourite Garry Price, now based in Cromwell.

Last year’s Rookie Of The Year, Marc King of Eketahuna, and Most Improved Driver Connor Etting of Auckland are also set to line up as are Troy Etting (Kenworth) and Tony Brand (Bedford) in what will be a fantastic battle of the big rigs!

Photo credit - Vanessa Adcock