Jaxon Evans and Darren Kelly are the two Kiwis set for a promotion of their FIA Driver Rating, according to the governing body’s provisional 2022 list.
Evans is currently a Silver-rated driver, but from January 1 next year he will be Gold rated.
Likewise, Kelly, who is currently a Bronze rated driver, will become Silver rated.
This year, Evans competed in the Porsche Supercup championship and finished runners-up.
He split that time with a debut gig in the FIA World Endurance Championship with Dempsey Proton Racing. He drives a Porsche 911 RSR-19 in the GTE-Am class.
GTE-Am teams are only allowed one Gold-rated driver.
Evans’ WEC teammate Matt Campbell is already a Gold driver. That means the two cannot be teammates in GTE-Am next season unless they both race in GTE-Pro.
By becoming a Silver-rated driver, Kelly’s international opportunities expand.
The past two years have seen the drift star become something of an endurance racing ace.
Kelly has won the North Island, South Island and New Zealand endurance titles.
He achieved that driving an Aston Martin Vantage GT3 alongside Spanish racer Alex Riberas.
The only other driver rating change from the pool of Kiwis is Craig Baird, who drops from Gold to Silver.
Four New Zealanders boast having the top-tier Platinum rating. They are Earl Bamber, Scott Dixon, Brendon Hartley and Shane van Gisbergen.