Hawkeswood focused on title push in 2026
Jack Hawkeswood has his eyes firmly on the big prize as the Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship is set to get underway in a couple of weeks.
After debuting his new Toyota Yaris Rally 2 car at Whangarei late last year, Hawkeswood will chase a maiden championship title in 2026.
“We want to finish every rally but ultimately we have got our eyes on the championship,” Hawkeswood said.
“We have a handful of goals to tick off and if we can get those ticked off, we should get there.”
Hawkeswood is one of three highly promising young drivers looking to chase the title in 2026 and follow in the footsteps of their fathers. Jack and Robbie Stokes will line-up in identical Skoda Fabia Rally 2 cars, hoping to emulate what their father Brian did twice in the 1980s while Hawkeswood would love to achieve what his father Andrew did in 2017 in winning the gold star.
“Both Jack and Robbie – I wouldn’t say are a thorn in my side – but it is going to make for some pretty interesting competition,” Hawkeswood said.
“I think Jack has really come a long way since he got into a cat 1 car.”
Hawkeswood took out the opening round of the North Island Rally Series – the Possum Bourne Memorial Rally – last weekend in his older model AP4 Yaris.
“It is incredibly important – just doing some kms in the AP4 car helps so much. Any seat time is good seat time,” he added.
One thing that will be a factor in the 2026 championship is the sport returns to Southland and Hawke’s Bay with two new events on the calendar.
Hawkeswood welcomes the change.
“We know what the Southland roads are like – I have done a lot of rally sprints down there and we got a glimpse with Southern Lights a couple of years ago,” he explained.
“It has been a couple of years since I have down Hawke’s Bay but I am looking forward to it.
“I think it is really good that we can get these new rounds in the championship every year to make it a fair go for everyone on new roads.
“I think new events over repeat ones or events like Otago where they switch it around with the route – it just makes it a it more of a fair game when everyone sees a new road for the first time.”
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