Ex-Formula 1 race director Michael Masi has joined the NZ Championship ahead of the start of the 2026 season, MotorSport New Zealand has announced.
Masi will oversee a range of national series in New Zealand as the event director, with a focus on “ensuring the safe, fair, and professional delivery of each round”.
In addition to his primary responsibilities in the NZ Championship, he will work closely with MotorSport New Zealand to “observe the sport’s rules, regulations, and operational processes in action and provide expert recommendations to ensure they remain best-practice and fit-for-purpose".
Further, he will help contribute to the governing body’s new training and development framework for officials.
Masi’s appointment at the NZ Championship and his broader role at MotorSport New Zealand has come just three months after he stepped down as the chairman at Supercars Commission, a role he had held since mid-2022.
He will remain a board member at both Karting Australia and Southern Australian Motorsport.
“New Zealand has an abundantly rich and proud heritage in the sport,” said Masi. “I’m very much looking forward to working in partnership with, and supporting MotorSport New Zealand, Toyota New Zealand and the Repco NextGen NZ Championship to continue building upon and developing the continual improvement of the sport for all participants and stakeholders.”
Masi previously served as F1’s race director at the FIA but was dismissed following the controversy surrounding the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where his handling of a late safety car period and procedural decisions drew criticism. After leaving the race director role in 2022, he remained briefly at the FIA before parting ways entirely.
The NZ Championship encompasses a variety of single-seater, touring car and sportscar series. Formula Regional Oceania, the forerunner to the Toyota Racing Series where several current F1 drivers raced early in their careers, serves as the championship’s flagship category.
“Michael’s experience at the highest levels of global motorsport will help us sharpen our systems, elevate our championships, and support our officials,” said MotorSport New Zealand president Deborah Day. “His appointment is an important step in our broader strategy to modernise, develop capability, and set the sport up for long-term success.”
NZ Championship CEO Josie Spillane added: “Michael is an incredible addition to our summer and matches perfectly with our ambition to provide a World Class development championship for our competitors and New Zealand MotorSport.
“The process working with MotorSport New Zealand and Toyota to facilitate his addition as event director showcases what happens when the key stakeholders collaborate to drive the sport forward positively.”
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