Some say the most exciting race at the Supercars Taupō event on the weekend has been the annual Police vs Fire and Emergency NZ go kart battle.

There’s already a debate and plenty of banter across social media over which team actually won on the day, with East Coast Bays Volunteer Fire Brigade saying FENZ won.

“Although the police tried to sabotage, we still came out with first, second and third places,” says an East Coast Bays Volunteer Fire Brigade spokesperson on their Facebook page.

Some suspicious activity? Photo: Supplied.

The two teams lined up on Sunday, with already some very suspicious pre-race activity going on when a set of Police road spikes was discovered mysteriously laid out by someone across their rival’s lane.

“Is this cheating? The FENZ go kart team face an extra challenge, at this morning's Police v FENZ race at the Taupō International Motorsport Park go kart track,” says a Bay of Plenty & Taupō Police spokesperson on their Facebook page.

“May the best team win!”

After buckling up, the arresting law-enforcement officers and the flamous passion-fuelled firefighters floored it, quickly heating up the track as they sped off.

The two teams lined up ready for the starting signal. Photo: Supplied.

Bemused comments flowed thick and fast across the Facebook pages, as hundreds followed the action. Someone speculated that the road spikes were deployed by police to slow down their rivals.

“Wait til they get their hoses out!” wrote Alan Barlow of the FENZ team.

“I am backing you guys all the way. You have had plenty practice chasing fleeing drivers.” – wrote Sharon Trass on the Police page.

“Be more exciting than the super cars,” wrote Chriss Taylor.

“When you hear a siren and see flashing lights behind you pull as far to the left as possible, and let them pass,” came from Mary Hohepa-Bell, giving the FENZ team some racing advice.

Police and FENZ teams battling it out on the race track. Photo: Supplied.

Police were determined to be the winners on the day, despite the seeming contrary evidence.

“Shall we call it a draw? After some close racing the results are in: FENZ karts recorded the fastest laps, but a Police kart was first across the line, so we're pretty sure this means blue team takes the honours,” says a Police spokesperson.

The FENZ team were having none of that, saying they came first, second and third.

The Police and FENZ team on the winners' podium. Photo: Supplied.

“Now Bay of Plenty & Taupō Police can you remind me is that now 3:0 to us? Better luck next year,” says an East Coast Bays Volunteer Fire Brigade spokesperson

Plans for a re-match are already in discussion.

“See you back here for more burning rubber and squealing tyres in 2025,” says a Police spokesperson.