Oval Superstars Tour


The Oval Superstars Tour is a New Zealand based motorsport series, with championship rounds held throughout the North Island. Founded in 2013, the tour has grown to become a consistent fixture on the New Zealand Speedway calendar.
Heading into its sixth season in 2018–19, the tour has had five different champions in five years. The series is owned by Hadley Group and as of the 2018–19 season will be organised and promoted by a driver-lead group.

Origins

The proposal for a national series for the Minisprint class of Speedway in New Zealand was originally conceived by Wellingtonian James Hadley at the end of the 2012–13 season. Having been involved with the class for several seasons, there was an obvious need for a more organised calendar of events. Drivers supported the idea and concept of what could be achieved was soon in circulation. The following season the Oval Superstars Tour was launched, staging five events throughout the North Island.

Sporting regulations

The OST is run at venues licensed by Speedway New Zealand, the major governing body of Speedway in NZ.

Race day format

In most cases, an OST event consists of the field of cars being split into three even groups. There are three qualifying heats to sort the grid for the Main Event. In each heat, two groups will take part, with the grids ordered to give all drivers a fair chance across the night. As an example, Heat One is Group 1 & 2, Heat Two is Group 1 & 3 & Heat Three is Group 2 & 3. Drivers receive grid points for the race results, with first place taking 24, second 23, third 22 and so on.
Following qualifying, driver's grids for the Main Event are determined by their grid points, with the highest points scorers starting at the front. Main Events are usually 20 laps in distance, except for the tour's annual premier event the Windy City Showdown, which in competed for over 30 laps.

Championship points system

Drivers will earn championship points in heat races if they finish inside the top 10 positions, or in the Main Event if they finished inside the top 12. All drivers arriving at an event also receive 15 bonus points regardless of finishing position.
  1. Heat points: 1st: 15, 2nd: 12, 3rd: 10, 4th: 8, 5th: 6, 6th: 5, 7th: 4, 8th: 3, 9th: 2, 10th: 1
  2. Main Event points: 1st: 25, 2nd: 18, 3rd: 15, 4th: 12, 5th: 10, 6th: 8, 7th: 6, 8th: 5, 9th: 5, 10th: 3, 11th: 2, 12th: 1
Drivers also drop their worst round before the final championship points are confirmed.

Cars

The Oval Superstars Tour currently includes the Minisprint class.

Records

Champions

Oval Superstars Tour Wins

All figures correct as of the 2018–19 Grand Final, Palmerston North Speedway.
Driver competed in the 2018-19 OST Season
BoldOval Superstars Tour Champion

RankCountryHome TownDriverWinsSeasons active
1Palmerston NorthChristian Hermansen122013–
2KihikihiJade Barnett52013–18
3TaupoDean Cooper32014–18
4HamiltonBen Vaughan22013-
4KapitiJamie Larsen22013–17
4TaranakiShaun Dickie22013–
4Palmerston NorthKarl McGill22013–
4TaranakiLydia Dickinson22017–
9Palmerston NorthShane Dewar12013–
9TaranakiSean Rice12013–14
9Palmerston NorthStephen Buys12013-14

Oval Superstars Minisprint Hall of Fame

Awards and nominations