Round 1, Sydney motorsport park
Round 1 of the 2026 MX5 Mania MX5 Cup Championship opened the season at Sydney Motorsport Park in challenging heat and humidity. Despite the conditions, the field delivered consistently close racing across all three races, with six to seven cars circulating at near-identical pace for much of the day. The championship is proudly supported by category sponsor MX5 Mania, with strong class backing from Veyron Finance, Smart Boating, Urban Auto Co, and Tim Herring Towing.
Qualifying immediately set the tone for the weekend. Tim Herring led the Forced Induction runners, while Jamie Martin, Ian Spinks, Rod Tippett, David Johnson, Brett Lansley, and Martin Lyall were all separated by narrow margins. Across the four classes, there was little to choose between the front half of the field, a trend that carried through every race session.
Race 1 delivered hard but clean racing across the pack. In Forced Induction, backed by Veyron Finance, early points were secured by Tim Herring and Sarah Medley, while Jamie Martin and Rod Tippett established themselves at the front of the Smart Boating Naturally Aspirated Slicks class. Ian Spinks opened strongly in Tim Herring Towing Super 200, and Brett Lansley and David Johnson traded positions in Urban Auto Co Naturally Aspirated Treaded, highlighting just how evenly matched the class was.
Race 2 continued the close competition, with constant position changes through the midfield and no clear breakaway group. Sarah Medley delivered a standout drive, showing strong pace and consistency after an earlier spin in the day, and importantly completing the weekend without the mechanical issues that have troubled her car in the past. Paul Nudd recovered steadily after missing qualifying due to a battery issue and starting Race 1 from the rear of grid, while multiple drivers managed rising track temperatures and physical fatigue as the afternoon progressed.
Race 3 capped off a demanding day for both drivers and machinery. Tim Herring claimed victory and maximum points in Forced Induction, consolidating his championship position, while Jamie Martin again demonstrated consistency in Naturally Aspirated Slicks. Ian Spinks completed a solid Super 200 weekend to emerge as class leader, and the Naturally Aspirated Treaded battle between Brett Lansley and David Johnson remained unresolved heading into the next round.
Several competitors faced significant challenges throughout the event. Craig Barney was unable to continue after losing fifth and sixth gear while also attempting double duty with SuperTT. Jacob Maher endured a difficult start to the day after locking the keys in the car during unloading, followed by mechanical issues in a car owned by Sam Silvestro. Robert Giovenco suffered a right rear upper control arm failure that also damaged the axle, while Andy Harris was sidelined after electrical issues and turbo heat melted the brake master cylinder reservoir. Richard Herring battled exhaust manifold problems, and Brad Forgeard recorded a late retirement after earlier running.
Points After Round 1
With Round 1 complete, the championship standings reflect just how tight the racing has been. Multiple class leaders are separated by single-digit margins, and outright points are already shared at the top. Consistency, reliability, and finishing races proved decisive under extreme conditions.
- Forced Induction (Veyron Finance): Tim Herring leads on 40 points, with Sarah Medley close behind on 37
- Naturally Aspirated Slicks (Smart Boating): Jamie Martin leads on 46 points, ahead of Rod Tippett on 36
- Naturally Aspirated Treaded (Urban Auto Co): Brett Lansley and David Johnson separated by a single point
- Super 200 (Tim Herring Towing): Ian Spinks leads on 46 points, with John Connolly next on 36
Outright Championship Standings
The outright championship picture is already taking shape, with two drivers tied at the top after the opening round. The top ten remain tightly packed, underlining the depth of competition across all classes.
Trophy Presentation
The Round 1 trophy presentation recognised class winners and podium finishers after a physically demanding day for all competitors. With heat and humidity affecting every session, finishing races and maintaining consistency were key factors in the final results. Congratulations to all class winners and podium recipients, and thanks to MX5 Mania, Veyron Finance, Smart Boating, Urban Auto Co, and Tim Herring Towing for their continued support of the championship.

Veyron Finance Forced Induction class
Rob Kriletich (3rd) & Tim Herring (1st)

Urban Auto Co Naturally Aspirated Treaded class
David Johnson (2nd) & Brett Lansley (1st)

Smart Boating Naturally Aspirated Slick class
Martin Lyall (3rd), Rod Tippett (2nd) & Jamie Martin (1st)

Tim Herring Towing Super 200 class
Ian Spinks (1st)