Auckland's Hayden Williams was on the verge of tears after the biggest win of his career in the Barry Butterworth Memorial at WXC Speedway-Western Springs on Saturday night.

Almost two months after a skiing accident caused him to be put into a medically induced coma, Michael Schumacher's friends are still at a loss to explain the severity of his injuries.

It was a pretty good year for New Zealanders racing in motorsport last year, which was acknowledged at the Halberg Awards on Thursday night.

New Zealand youngster Scott McLaughlin had a dream first season in the V8 Supercars Championship last year.

The New Zealand Grand Prix is the first race on the FIA's international motorsport calendar.

This year's eighth running of the International Rally of Whangarei has confirmed Czech Republic Skoda factory personnel will be among the nationalities involved in the two-day gravel competition that will swell the region's population in April.