It was the fifty first New Zealand Grand Prix and was the first iteration to utilise Toyota Racing Series cars (based on international Formula 3 regulations).

Held in damp conditions, the race was won by Hamad Al Fardan after Andy Knight was disqualified after failing to head mechanical black flag warnings over a faulty rain light.

Brendon Hartley took to the runoff in an evasive maneuver, but an unsighted Al Fardan failed to react in time and made like light contact with Harford, damaging the Bahraini's front wing.

Despite suffering from a skewed front wing angle, Al Fardan began to set the pace and passed Hartley promptly for fourth place.

Knight passed Gaunt for the lead around the outside of turn one, however he would be shown a mechanical black flag for a faulty rain light and was obligated to retreat to the pitlane.