Canterbury Set for a Huge Weekend of Off Road Racing!

The countdown is on! New Zealand’s off-road racing community is preparing to descend on Canterbury over Labour Weekend, 24–25 October, for the 2026 CT Civil ORANZ National Finals, hosted by the Canterbury Off Road Racing Club at Canterbury Offroad Raceway, West Melton, Christchurch.

After a hard-fought season of racing across both the North and South Islands, it all comes down to one final weekend, where National Championship honours will be decided, bragging rights earned, and the country’s best off-road racers will give it everything they have.

And things are already looking promising!

At the time of writing, 41 competitors have entered, with just over a week to go. The big question is — can we crack the magic 60 entries?

With competitors still making their final preparations, there is every chance the entry list could grow further. Sixty entries would certainly make for a fantastic way to finish the 2026 National Series.

A Season That Comes Down to This

The 2026 CT Civil ORANZ National Championship has taken competitors across New Zealand, from the fast and furious short course circuits to the demanding endurance events that test both man and machine.

From Auckland and Tauranga, Palmerston North through to Nelson, Kurow and Christchurch, competitors have battled mechanical failures, changing conditions, challenging circuits and some incredibly close racing.

Now the National Finals provide one last opportunity to collect those all-important championship points.

Some competitors will arrive with championship positions looking strong, while others will be looking to make a final charge up the points table. And as anyone involved in off-road racing knows, absolutely nothing is guaranteed until the chequered flag drops.

A broken gearbox, suspension failure, puncture or simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time can turn a promising weekend upside down.

That’s what makes off-road racing so unpredictable — and so exciting!

Two Days, Two Very Different Challenges

Saturday 24 October will see competitors tackle four heats of short course racing around Canterbury Offroad Raceway.

Expect plenty of flying dirt, big jumps, close racing and drivers pushing their machines to the limit. With valuable championship points on offer, there will be no shortage of commitment.

Sunday 25 October changes the game completely.

The 250km Enduro will take competitors from the raceway into the surrounding forest, where speed alone won’t be enough. Mechanical reliability, concentration, strategy and a little bit of luck will all be essential.

The weekend will also feature Juniors short course and enduro giving the next generation of New Zealand off-road racers their chance to be part of the National Finals atmosphere.

From the powerful trucks and open-wheel buggies through to the increasingly competitive UTV classes and our junior racers, there should be something for every off-road racing enthusiast.

The People and Businesses Behind the Sport

Events of this magnitude don’t happen without considerable support, and the 2026 National Championship has been fortunate to have an outstanding group of businesses supporting off-road racing throughout New Zealand.

A huge acknowledgement must go to CT Civil, the naming sponsor of the ORANZ National Championship. Their continued commitment plays a major role in helping the sport grow, supporting clubs and providing a national competition for racers throughout the country.

Alongside CT Civil are our valued National Class Sponsors:

V-Dub Shoppe – National Buggy Class Sponsor

4WD Bits – National Truck Class Sponsor

Elite Kitchens – National Junior Class Sponsor

These businesses deserve enormous recognition for their contribution to New Zealand off-road racing.

Sponsorship isn’t simply about a name or logo on a race vehicle. It helps provide opportunities for competitors, supports the clubs delivering events and contributes to the future of our sport.

We encourage everyone involved in off-road racing to get behind the businesses that get behind us.

Hats Off to Canterbury

Hosting a National Finals is no small undertaking, and the Canterbury Off Road Racing Club deserves considerable credit for stepping up to deliver the biggest weekend on the 2026 National Series calendar.

The preparation required to run both short course and endurance racing is substantial. From track preparation and safety planning through to timing, officials, scrutineering, recovery crews, communications and the countless behind-the-scenes jobs, it takes a dedicated team of volunteers to bring everything together.

It’s often easy to overlook just how much work goes into organising a race meeting until you’re one of those people standing out in the paddock long before the first race car fires into life.

To the Canterbury club members, volunteers, officials, landowners, event sponsors and everyone contributing to the weekend — thank you.

Your efforts are what keep New Zealand off-road racing moving forward.

Can We Make It 60?

With 41 entries already confirmed at the time of writing, the foundations are there for a fantastic National Finals.

But wouldn’t it be something to see 60 competitors lining up in Canterbury?

For anyone still sitting on the fence, there’s still an opportunity to be part of the action. Whether you’re chasing a National Championship, looking to finish the season on a high or simply wanting to enjoy one last major race weekend with your fellow competitors, this is the place to be.

There is something special about the final event of the year. The friendships, the rivalry, the last-minute repairs, the stories in the pits and the celebrations afterwards are all part of what makes our sport what it is.

And with the best racers from around the country coming together, the racing should be well worth watching.

So come on, New Zealand off-road racers — 41 entries and counting. Can we get to 60?

Let’s finish the 2026 CT Civil ORANZ National Championship with a National Finals weekend to remember!

2026 CT Civil ORANZ National Finals
Canterbury Offroad Raceway, West Melton, Christchurch
Saturday 24 October – Short Course Racing
Sunday 25 October – 250km Enduro

For further event information and competitor details, visit the Canterbury Off Road Racing Club at www.dirt.org.nz or ORANZ at www.oranz.co.nz.