Drag action moves to Taupo

Holiday season quarter-mile action returns to Taupo next week with the Pirtek NZ Summer Nationals delivering the third round of 2016-17 season NZ Drag Racing Association championship competition.

The December 27 event is a one-day national meet with Top Alcohol, Top Door Slammer, Competition Bike and Top Street categories.

The 2016-17 season began at Tokoroa's Amisfield track in early December with racing for the Super Street, Junior Dragster and Modified Bike classes in action on the airstrip track. The Central Nationals at Masterton Motorplex on December 11-12 saw qualifying completed on Saturday but eliminations were rained out on Sunday.

Highlights included a 6.44secs/225.28mph qualifying pass for Hamilton's Nigel Dixon in his new Ford Falcon Door Slammer and a number of personal bests on the Wairarapa strip, including the first 6secs pass for Lower Hutt racer Allan Hartley in his blown big block Chev-engined T Altered.

After Taupo, the NZDRA points championship has two rounds at Motueka on February 4 and March 4 before the 49th running of the New Zealand Nationals at Masterton on March 18-19.

• The Taupo Thunder Dragway runs on the main straight of the Bruce McLaren Motorsport Park circuit. Qualifying starts at 8.45am.