Coulthard was virtually untouchable in the New Zealand Formula Ford Championship that season, having won every race in the series up to that point.

The Team USA Scholarship drivers of Sellers and Allmendinger were flown in to New Zealand a few days beforehand as part of a program organised by Jeremy Shaw and run by Kiwi John Crawford.

Brady Kennett, winner of the 1995 event, struggled with oil pressure and would eventually have to settle for eleventh place.

One of the biggest movers of the field was Nelson Hartley, brother of Formula One driver Brendon, who had climbed from 29th on the grid to finish sixth.

Taking the chequered flag to win the Grand Prix nearly four seconds ahead of Sellers, completing the race in just under an hour.