The 51st National Final of the NZFWDA NZ 4×4 Trials Series takes place this Saturday, near Hastings in Crownthorpe.
In a new location to the trials scene, the Hawkes Bay 4WD Club is known for its challenging courses that put the teams to the test and guarantee a show for those watching! After supporting the local fire brigade at their last event, this time proceeds go towards the Hawkes Bay Rescue Helicopter.
All the information can be seen in the poster above, otherwise check out the link to the event page here.
Heading into the final round of this season there have been a couple of late developments…
Mr. Nitro Customs Tom Baeriswyl oft seen filling in the co-drivers seat, makes his long-awaited return behind the wheel. After 12 years since his last appearance at a National, Baeriswyl is driving the former 1NZ McDells/3NZ Turner CowperTruck Hijinx. With a successful outing at the Mt Egmont Pairs Event last October and jumping with Shaun Nicholson & Ash Tonkin this season, Baeriswyl will be one to throw a spanner in the mix this Saturday.
Despite currently leading Central Zone honours by a big five-point margin this season, Russell & Glen Hall are missing off the entry list throwing it wide open. Two-time winners Wayne Buckthought & Rachel Buckthought inherit the lead, with Ryan Bold & Brendan Austin on equal points but sitting behind on countback. Brent Ward & Mickey Ward are just one point behind them, with John Hawken & Haare O’Brien only two points behind the leaders in their C Class Homebuilt. Defending Central Zone champs Mitch Caldow & Jamie Elms are also within a shot with a two-point gap.
Making a return is former 2NZ Kevin Hermansen & James Hunt in The Gambler. After winning last year’s Suzuki Extreme 4×4 Challenge, ‘Hermy’ has had a season off and looks set to blow off the cobwebs ahead of the 2026 Suzuki Extreme on ANZAC weekend. Joining alongside is James Hunt from Canterbury, making the change from the South Island Winch Challenge scene.
After over 20 years in the game, multiple champ Nathan Fogden & Mike Gibbons will bow out at the end of this season…
The face of A Class during the Suzuki Xtreme TV series days in the mid 2000’s, Fogden built up a reputation as a hard peddler with the places he and navigator Graeme Paton would push their little Suzuki SJ413, taking out A Class before moving into E Class with Mike Gibbons, and tasting success in the mid 2010’s. The Zook-Sport CowperTruck wouldn’t come much later, with the duo being the team to beat in C Class, as they took four titles between 2019-2023.
Always known for putting on a show, Fogden & Gibbons will make their last appearance (for now!) in Zook-Sport at the Suzuki Extreme 4×4 Challenge on ANZAC Weekend.
There are a few names in the mix of cracking the Top 10, starting with…
Title Contenders (1st-4th)
Theres a healthy gap for the current leaders, but mathematically there’s still a chance for a few other teams…
Chris Gifford & Sam Thomsen lead the way, with two wins and two second places putting them in pole position for a maiden title
After an impressive couple of seasons in The Punisher, Chris Gifford & Sam Thomsen look set to finally claim a maiden title.
After finishing 6th and 5th Overall to date, this season looks to be the South Waikato team’s best shot as their consistency at the sharp end rewards them with a healthy buffer heading into the final round.
Defending champs Jarred Biggs & Fleche Crawford have a loose grip on the top spot, needing a bit-of-luck if they wish to go back-to-back
Currently leading the standings by a point on their ‘Best-5’, Jarred Biggs & Fleche Crawford can only cross their fingers as they sit out the final round.
With two wins this season and helped by Gifford & Thomsen’s shocker at Mt Egmont, Biggs & Crawford can only hope that Gifford & Co don’t do better than 13th place at the final. Regardless, the defending champs are guaranteed a Top 3 placing however the results shape up.
The McKie’s are in with a shot, as they look set for their best result yet
The Sniper has snuck its way close to top thanks to three podium finishes this season. Their consistent results over the year reward them with their best opportunity yet!
Dave & Reece McKie are now within reach of Biggs & Crawford, with a 5th place all they need to nab 2NZ. A bit of luck will be needed for the top spot, as they aim to outscore Gifford & Thomsen by seven places.
Also in title contention with an outside shot, relying on a win and the Top 3 to do no better than their worst score is…
Scott Biggs & Phil Walton in Triple X sitting 11 points back from the leader…
Former champs Scott Biggs & Phil Walton have an outside shot, needing a win and those above to do no better than their worst score to make the jump back up to the top.
Easier said than done, as Biggs & Walton found themselves in a similar position last year when they took out the 2025 National Final only to fall short of 3NZ.
Safe as houses (5th & 6th)
Five out of the Top 6 teams have already secured a place in the Top 10 thanks to their consistent results over the season, with said teams now guaranteed to finish no lower than 6th! Rounding out the Top 6 are…
C Class leaders Angus Hamilton & Daniel Howat are having a season to remember, mainly because it’s their first one together in The Compensator.
Despite Hamilton’s first season in the NZ 4×4 Trials Series, alongside Howat they have stunned the field to take control of C Class and bring it to V8’s with their Honda K24 powered Nitro Custom. Scoring a podium and two Top 5’s to sit 5th heading into the final. With a DNF at Whanganui, the team must finish at Hawkes Bay to bring it home.
Shaun Nicholson & Beau Taylor are another team to reap the rewards of their consistency.
In their first full season with Steve, Nicholson has brought the results home with various navigators including Mike Ferguson & Tom Baeriswyl. In the mix for a win at Mt Egmont before scoring a maiden podium, Nicholson & Taylor only sit one point behind Hamilton & Howat as another team with an outside shot at 3NZ!
The Challengers (7th – 12th)
Yet to secure a spot in the Top 10 are six teams from across the North Island. With six already using their ‘drop round’, not only is it a battle to finish first, but it is also a battle to finish in order to claim a result for the season.
3NZ Ash Tonkin & Dyon Ross had a slow start to the season sitting as low as 16th, however a win at Taranaki has brought them back into the Top 10 as they look to end the season on a high.
The Thames Valley team sit on 371 points, ten behind Nicholson & Taylor and ten ahead of the next in a comfortable position.
Also making a late comeback into the Top 10 is 2NZ Mitch Caldow & Jamie Elms in 8th.
Taking 8th place at the last event has improved their chances, having scored just shy of the Top 10 in three rounds. With rumours of the Taranaki team sitting out next season, they’ll be sure to give it their all!
Sitting two points behind and two points ahead of 10th is John Hawken & Haare O’Brien in their C Class Homebuilt
A former C Class champ from the 2010’s, ‘Pieboy’ finally cracked the Top 10 after 12 years with a superb 4th place at Kaukapakapa, backing it up with 8th at Whanganui. The Whanganui team are on the comeback tour as they aim to beat their best result of 11th Overall from 2012!
Sitting in 10th place is Chris Tomalin & Richard Verner in their Homebuilt buggy.
The Waikato team made a return to the Top 10 for the first time in twenty years last season, albeit with the skin of their teeth. As at the final round they borrowed Ruby, a 2.7L N/A C Class truck to finish 10th=, taking the place through countback.
The team will be looking for a more straight forward affair this year, with The Ninja in good form.
A strong performance at the last round has seen Wayne Weatherly & Tayla Weatherly pop back into the mix, as the father-daughter team also aim to finish in the Top 10 for two seasons in a row.
With only four points between 8th and 11th, the Top 10 is as competitive as ever, with any of the teams capable of threatening the podium on their day.
Sitting 12th and four points back from 10th is Wayne Buckthought & Rachel Buckthought.
Like the others above, two Top 10 finishes during the year have served them well as they bring Hell Boy into the mix despite its years.
With Central Zone honours also on the cards for the Taranaki team, they’ll be pushing hard to bring it home.
The Classes
As well as a fighting for a spot in the Top 10 is those looking to become the National Champion in their respective classes.
In C Class Angus Hamilton & Daniel Howat lead by a massive seven-point margin, with those behind neck & neck with only two points separating 2nd-5th!
The new kids on the block have won every round they’ve finished so far this season in C Class, with Hamilton & Howat largely in front with Hawken & O’Brien the closest to knocking them off their perch at Round 2. With 400/400 points heading into the final, will they be able to equal Nathan Fogden & Mike Gibbons 500 point run in 2023?
John Hawken & Haare O’Brien hold onto 2nd by a point, as they look set for another Top 3 finish for the third year running.
With three class podiums already this year, like the others they’ll need a bit of luck to take the top spot by needing to outscore the leaders by eight places at the final.
Rhys O’Brien & Clarrie Vazey are the only other team to score a class win this season, with the Honda K24 being the engine of choice for the top step!
The team from the Eastern Bay are enjoying a good season, as they currently sit third in their highest position since fighting for the class title in 2021.
Nathan Fogden & Mike Gibbons have found their form at the tail end of the season as they look to end the season on a high, having announced their retirement from the sport.
On a run of podiums, they too are in the mix for the Top 3.
The defending C Class champs Shayne Towers & Tony Hadland have had a season of trials and tribulations, yet still stay in the mix only two points behind second.
With the issues ironed out over the season, the 402c Racing team are set to end on a high with son Kevin Towers making his debut in the navigators seat.
In Super Production we have the sole entry holding up the flag for the car brands, with Toyota the vehicle of choice.
For the second year running Paul Taylor & Danielle Taylor in Avalanche from the Eastern Bay are the champion elects in F Class. The father-daughter team have put their Toyota Landcruiser through its paces during the season, nipping at the heels of the Super Mods above them. With the Taylor’s rumoured to moving up a class for the next season, it may be the last time (for a wee while) that we see Toyota Tundra powered machine in action!
It’s all to play for at the National Final, with the day set to run rain, hail or shine at 144 Tauhara Road, Crownthorpe!