The impressive motor racing career of young Canterbury driver, Chris White Junior, continues this weekend as he crosses the Tasman to take part in the Toyota Gazoo Racing Australia GR Cup, a support category at the iconic Bathurst 1000.
The opportunity has come after White Junior’s successful season in the GR86 Cup in New Zealand last summer.
“I set a goal of winning the Rookie Championship. That was my only goal, one that I saw as my first step. Part of the prize was this drive in the guest car in the GR86 Australia Series at Bathurst.”
Driving at Bathurst will be “quite special”, says the 18-year-old.
“I’ve watched every Bathurst on television for the last twelve years, and I have done thousands of laps on the SIM.”
What would success look like for the Prebbleton driver this weekend?
“A top ten would be outstanding, plus maybe a top five in the reverse grid race with some cool passes. I am hoping there is someone like an ex-Supercar driver in the other guest car to share their experience.”
White Junior, who won a Tony Quinn Foundation shootout to assist his GR86 Championship campaign last summer, is now a Tony Quinn Foundation Ambassador. His Rookie Title also earned a drive in the Monochrome GT4 Australian Championship at Queensland Raceway alongside Quinn in a Toyota Supra GT4 Evo at the end of May.
He again impressed, finishing on the class podium and fourth overall under challenging conditions. He also excelled during the duo’s second outing at The Bend recently.
“I wasn’t expecting to be racing GT4 the year after my GR86 debut.”
White Junior, whose racing efforts are supported by Pak’nSave and several other supporters, will have two 20-minute practice sessions on Thursday to come to grips with the daunting 6.2 km Mount Panorama circuit, followed by a 20-minute qualifying session on Friday, followed by three races, one on Friday, one on Saturday and the other on Sunday, immediately before the Bathurst 1000.
Television coverage of the action from Bathurst will be screened on Sky Sport NZ.
Header Image: Bruce Jenkins Photography
