BNT V8s rookie Brayden Phillips has hinted at a possible TA2 drive over the coming seasons as the budding Canterbury racer prepares for the next step in his career.
Phillips steered his ex-Craig Baird Ford Falcon SuperTourer to sixth in the recently declared BNT V8 class – a strong result considering the 16-year-old only had three test sessions in the car before travelling North for the five-round series.
But with his debut season out of the way, Phillips attention now looks to turn elsewhere.
Earlier in the year, the BNT V8 series was struck with the unfortunate blow of losing its status as the New Zealand Touring Car Championship from 2021, with MotorSport New Zealand offering the title to the forthcoming TCR NZ series.
BNT V8s swiftly responded with the unveiling of its next-generation TA2 platform which the series will slowly adopt over the coming seasons.
Renowned for their ground quivering roar, series organisers are adamant the introduction of the TA2 class will mark the start of a much-needed rejuvenation phase for the class.
A handful of NZTA2 driver announcements are expected to be revealed over the coming days and while Phillips acknowledged the plan is still to run the SuperTourer for 2021, a TA2 drive for the aspiring teen may not be too far away.
“I reckon my debut year in the [BNT V8] series was very good apart from a few ups and downs with setup at the start of the season and with the brakes failing at Manfeild,” said Phillips.
“For 2021 we are still planning to run the SuperTouer in the BNT V8 series and also running our TL NZV8 in the South Island Endurance [But] TA2 might well still be on the cards.”
Asked what entices his interest towards the upcoming TA2 class Phillips said:
“Probably the style of racing and the fact you can race overseas in Asia and Australia.
“Bathurst is a dream of mine and I can see TA2 as an opportunity for me to race [there], just need more contacts to be able to make that happen.”
In November, the Australian TA2 racing series will head to Bathurst as part of the newly launched Bathurst International and will feature a 100km mini-enduro in a NASCAR throwback to the when the American categories made its sole appearance at the Mountain in 1998.
NZTA2 is set to make a wildcard appearance at Hampton Downs on September 4-6 as part of the revised Speedworks season-finale.
Phillips will now turn his attention towards the upcoming three-round South Island Endurance Series which is set to kick-off from Teretonga Park on September 12.
Main Image: Tayler Burke