The three finalists have been chosen for the inaugural Hampton Downs Racing Academy (HDNZRA).
The chosen finalists are 18-year-old North Island Formula Ford champion Matthew McCutcheon, Formula Ford newcomer Liam Sceats, 16, and Hayden Bakkerus, 16, who raced last season in Formula First and recently moved up to Formula Ford.
The winner will receive $30,000 towards a season in the Best Bars Toyota 86 Championship.
The last 12 months has seen 41 drivers going through the Hampton Downs NZ Racing Academy at the Hampton Downs circuit, putting them in the running for the Toyota 86 shootout.
With Covid-19 restrictions cancelling the on track component the finalists will instead take part in a virtual shootout.
“We have great driving data from the finalists from when they’ve driven the Toyota 86 during the past year that more on-track time is not totally necessary,” said HDNZRA chief instructor Daniel Gaunt.
“We’re able to conduct the off-track activities via zoom interviewing so that allows us to carry on as planned to find the inaugural winner.”
The virtual shootout will be judged by Steve Horne, Highlands and Hampton Downs CEO Josie Spillane, four-time Bathurst 1000 winner Greg Murphy and Gaunt.
The winner will join the Toyota 86 grid for the upcoming season, alongside other experienced and upcoming drivers, fighting for the biggest prize in the series’ history.
The 2021-’22 Toyota 86 season is scheduled to kick off at Hampton Downs Motorsport Park November 12-14.