The 2012 Grand Slam Cup competition was originally due to begin at Auckland's Waikaraka Park in late December with the Superstock NZ Grand Prix. But rain eventually forced its postponement. So the Grand Slam got underway simultaneously in Nelson and Wellington as the South and North Island Championships took place in early January. Nelsons was just a one night affair, while Wellingtons event was the traditional two nighter. Into the middle of January and it was the annual trip to Rotorua for the World Invitation Superstock Championships, before it was all eyes on Huntly for the big one when the New Zealand Championship was rain-delayed by 24hrs, eventually staged on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 January. A four-week period between events followed before the Grand Slam Cup was completed with the rescheduled 2012 New Zealand Grand Prix in Auckland in late February.

Three podium finishes in his four Grand Slam events this season has given Peter Bengston the overall Grand Slam Cup title for the 2012 season, just ahead of New Zealand Champion Joe Faram, North Island Champion Graeme Barr, and World Champion Andy McCabe.

While he did not win a major title this season, Bengston's consistent finishes ensured he edged ahead of the three big title winners this season. Second place at the North Islands and Grand Prix, a third at the Worlds, and 18th at the New Zealands meant that he was the best overall competitor this season at the Grand Slam events.

Faram backed up his win at the NZ's with a top-3 at the GP, and was a finalist at his other two events, while Barr was a top-10 finisher at all four events. McCabe had top-10s at the North Islands and GP, but his failure to qualify at the NZ's proved a big factor in the overall Grand Slam Cup outcome. Shane Penn rounds out the top-5 with his 3NZ the highlight, but he did qualify for all the major events this season.

Early-season points leader (and South Island Champion) Brett Nicholls faded to 18th after a disappointing North Island campaign this season, while Scott Redfern raced up to finish 9th overall for the season, after three Grand Slam meetings in the borrowed Tank, finishing on the high of winning the Grand Prix.

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Scroll down the page to see how the season unfolded after each of the Grand Slam events.

This GRAND SLAM EVENT update contains the points following both the South Island and North Island Championships staged in early January.

The new Grand Slam Cup season is officially underway after Nelson hosted the South Island Championships, and Wellington the North Island Championaships in early January. By virtue of their respective wins, Graeme Barr and Brett Nicholls head the cup standing at this early stage.

Points weighting for these two events swung in favour of the North Island drivers, due to the larger entry field and the need (albeit only just) for a qualifying round. So 16 of the finalists in Wellington make the top-26, with 10 from Nelson.

Overall finishing positions in each event determine the spots in this list, with the top 5 from each event evenly spread, before the nothern event takes a 2-to-1 ratio swing.

It is early days in the Grand Slam Cup, and with the three 'open' championships still to be staged, the series contenders will start to come to the fore over the next fortnight.

This GRAND SLAM EVENT update contains updated points following the World Invitation Superstock Championships staged in mid-January.

The Grand Slam Cup for 2012 is starting to take some real shape now after three of the five events, and it is Palmerston North-based Hawkes Bay racer Andy McCabe who sits atop the list in the race for overall season honours, ahead of clubmate Peter Bengston.

However it is very tight at the top, with McCabe's fourth and first places (at the North Islands and World 240's respectively) just edging out Bengston who has had a second and a third placing at the same events.

Earlier event winners at the Island Championships, Graeme Barr and Brett Nicholls drop slightly but remain well in contention, while Shane Harwood and Chad Ace backed up earlier podium finishes with solid results at the Worlds.

As can be expected with this format of the Grand Slam Cup, many new names have now entered the top-26. This can be acheived following a good result at the higher weighted event (Worlds), or two average results combining to be better than one good result.

But with two more of the 'open' championships still to be staged, including the heavywieght NZ Championship, expect more changes to come as the series unfolds.

This GRAND SLAM EVENT update contains updated points following the New Zealand Superstock Championships staged in late-January.

After the action-packed New Zealand Championships, Graeme Barr has taken back the lead in the chase for the 2012 Kiwi Superstock Grand Slam Cup, but holds the narrowest of leads from the new 1NZ Joe Faram.

Barr, who won the North Island title, has backed that up with top-10 finishes at both the World 240's and the NZ's, while Faram has won the NZ's, a top-10 at the Worlds and a finals spot at the North Islands. Peter Bengston slips to third, following his 18th placing at the New Zealand Championships.

Andy McCabe who had led the Cup chase into this latest event, failed to make the finals field and drops slightly, now flanked by the two drivers who finished second and third at Huntly, Kerry Humphrey and Shane Penn.

With four events gone, and just one remaining in the Grand Slam for this season, the list now has a steady look to it, with just four new drivers entering in the update.

As we look ahead to the Grand Prix in Auckland, all of the current top-11 drivers have a mathematical chance of winning the overall honours.

This GRAND SLAM EVENT update contains the final cup points following the New Zealand Superstock Grand Prix in late-February.

Three podium finishes in his four Grand Slam events this season has earnt Peter Bengston the overall Grand Slam Cup title for the 2012 season, just ahead of New Zealand Champion Joe Faram, North Island Champion Graeme Barr, and World Champion Andy McCabe.

While he did not win a major title this season, Bengston's consistent finishes ensured he edged ahead of the three big title winners this season. Second place at the North Islands and Grand Prix, a third at the Worlds, and 18th at the New Zealands meant that he was the best overall competitor this season at the Grand Slam events.

Faram backed up his win at the NZ's with a top-3 at the GP, and was a finalist at his other two events, while Barr was a top-10 finisher at all four events. McCabe had top-10s at the North Islands and GP, but his failure to qualify at the NZ's proved a big factor in the overall Grand Slam Cup outcome. Shane Penn rounds out the top-5 with his 3NZ the highlight, but he did qualify for all the major events this season.

Early-season points leader (and South Island Champion) Brett Nicholls faded to 18th after a disappointing North Island campaign this season, while Scott Redfern raced up to finish 9th overall for the season, after three Grand Slam meetings in the borrowed Tank, finishing on the high of winning the Grand Prix.