Roland Dane, a figure who has been immersed in motorsport for over 50 years, is embarking on a new chapter. The Supercars legend has officially joined the GT New Zealand Championship as a driving standards observer for the 2026/27 season. This move marks his involvement in New Zealand racing, after long being an icon in Australia.
Dane is no stranger to the sport. As the founder of Triple Eight Race Engineering, he led his team to numerous titles in Supercars. Now, he wants to contribute to the development of GT4, a category he believes has a bright future. "I very much enjoy GT and have been a big advocate of the GT4 category in particular," he said. "So I relish the opportunity to contribute to the NZ scene and help Josie (Spillane) to develop the series."
The GT New Zealand Championship itself is a multi-class category for GT4 cars and contemporary Porsche Cup cars. Next season, the championship will be renamed Summerset GT New Zealand. This change comes as promoter Tony Quinn takes over from Grant Smith. Quinn, also known as the owner of Highlands Motorsport Park, brings fresh air to the competition.
Besides Dane, two other names are also joining. Phil Shaw has been appointed as GT New Zealand Championship category manager. Shaw is no newcomer to racing; he spent 14 years as general manager of events at Supercars. His presence is expected to bring high-level organizational experience. Meanwhile, Nathan Pilcher will fill the role of Porsche Endurance Trophy coordinator.
Josie Spillane, Chief Executive of NextGen New Zealand Championships and GT New Zealand Championship, welcomed the three appointments. "We're incredibly excited about the team we've put together for our first season with Summerset GT New Zealand," said Spillane. "And having Phil, Roland and Nathan come on board is a loud and proud statement of what we're trying to achieve with the championship."
Spillane added that each individual brings something different. "They each bring something different, including their personalities, but between them there is an incredible amount of knowledge, professionalism and experience across so many areas of the sport," she continued. "To be able to bring that together within GT New Zealand and the Repco NextGen NZ Championship is something we're really thrilled about, and I know they'll each add a huge amount to helping us raise the bar even higher for New Zealand Motorsport."
The 2026/27 GT New Zealand Championship begins at Taupo on November 13-15. However, the season proper starts in the new year at Teretonga on January 22-24. The season hits halfway at Highlands on January 29-31 as part of the New Zealand Grand Prix undercard. The penultimate round will be held at Hampton Downs on February 26-28, while the date for the Taupo finale is still to be confirmed as part of the Supercars meeting.
With a solid team composition, the GT New Zealand Championship next season promises tight and professional competition. Dane's presence as driving standards observer will ensure every battle is safe and sporting. Fans in New Zealand can look forward to exciting action from GT4 and Porsche Cup drivers competing at iconic circuits such as Taupo, Teretonga, Highlands, and Hampton Downs.
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