Aotearoa’s first-ever RedBull Cut It just went down at Fieldays, bringing high-speed thrills to the Southern Hemisphere’s largest agricultural event, and it was absolute carnage.
30 racers from all over New Zealand brought their custom-built mowers to Mystery Creek, hitting speeds of 60km, racing around the paddock to be the inaugural winner and putting on a show for hundreds of spectators.
The competition featured three separate events: firstly, the time trial, which determined where each driver would sit on the grid; the joker lap races, where each driver was allowed to use a shortcut, a Le Mans-style race; and finally, the team race with pit stops.
The winners included Ross Wicksteed with Full Throttle Flyer, Lee and Ben Patrick with King of the Turf and Mike Evans with Blades of Glory, which also took home the people’s choice awards.
Lawn mower racing in New Zealand has been gaining popularity, attracting enthusiasts of all ages and emphasising fun and accessibility.
The machines used for racing are modified ride-on mowers with the cutting blades removed, and they are considered one of the most accessible forms of motorsport.
“Bringing the event to New Zealand Fieldays is a great opportunity to get young motorsport and farming audiences to see the next big thing in quirky motorsport. We encourage the young farmers to add some motorsport to their lives,” says Barry Dawe, from the New Zealand Lawnmower Racing Association.
Photo Credit: Redbull
