The Tony Quinn Foundation has confirmed the four young Kiwi drivers who will contest the fifth edition of the GR86 Shootout: Auckland’s Lucas McGill, Pukekohe’s Keiano Weir, Hamilton’s Taylor Mitchell and Timaru’s Corban Sprague, with one set to receive a $54,000 support package for the upcoming Bridgestone Toyota GR86 Championship.
The Shootout will take place at Hampton Downs on Tuesday, September 23, where the finalists will be evaluated not only on their driving ability, but also on their technical feedback and commercial understanding of the sport.
Tony Quinn Foundation Trustee and Chief Instructor of the Hampton Downs NZ Racing Academy, Daniel Gaunt, said he was impressed by the calibre of drivers coming through the programme.
“Every year, the level of talent coming through the Academy continues to rise, and this year’s Shootout finalists are a great reflection of that. They’ve each shown not just speed on track, but also the work ethic and determination that’s needed to succeed in motorsport.
“The Shootout is designed to find the next generation of Kiwi stars, and I’m really looking forward to seeing how each of them approaches the challenge.”
To be eligible, drivers had to be under the age of 21, graduates of the Hampton Downs NZ Racing Academy, and genuine rookies to the Toyota GR86 Championship, ensuring the Shootout provides an opportunity for rising talents rather than experienced campaigners.
Among this year’s finalists is 17-year-old Aucklander Lucas McGill, who has made a rapid rise in just four years of karting, quickly establishing himself as one to watch.
This season, he claimed the New Zealand National Sprint Championship in the Rotax Max Light class and also stood on the podium twice in the Rotax Max Challenge.
McGill said being named a finalist was “an amazing opportunity,” adding that he can’t wait to drive the GR86 and see how he stacks up against the competition.
“I can’t thank the Tony Quinn Foundation enough — the prize will certainly make the series more accessible.”
Also hailing from the Auckland region is 15-year-old Pukekohe racer Keiano Weir, who began in dirt karting at six before moving into quarter midgets a couple of years later. There, he proved dominant, winning the majority of championships he contested before looking for a new challenge.
Mentored in speedway by Robert van Gisbergen, it was on his advice that Weir made the leap into Formula First at 13.
He quickly found his feet, winning the NZ Formula First Winter Series in his debut campaign before stepping into the National Championship for the following two summers.
Weir said the timing of the Shootout opportunity couldn’t have been better, with his family unsure of what was next after losing a long-time backer.
“I’m really grateful for the chance and excited to see if I have what it takes to continue my dream of tarmac racing.”
Hamilton’s Taylor Mitchell is another young talent on the rise. After six successful years in karting, he stepped into the BMW Race Driver Series E46 class in 2023, finishing 13th in his rookie campaign before improving to 7th in his second season despite being hampered by late electrical issues.
Away from the track, Mitchell has also proven himself a successful sim racer, further developing the racecraft he now brings into real-world competition.
Mitchell said making the Shootout had been a major goal of his, and he is “incredibly honoured” to represent the Foundation and everything it has done for New Zealand motorsport.
“I’m stoked to have this opportunity to take my career to the next level.”
Rounding out the four is Timaru’s Corban Sprague, a fourth-generation racer who began his motorsport career in grass karting before moving to the 2K Cup South Island with a Honda Integra in 2022.
He went on to finish second overall the following season before stepping up to the Mazda Pro8 New Zealand Series, where he won four of five rounds in 2024/25 and narrowly missed the title by just three points.
In 2025, he carried that form into the Toyota TR86 Trophy Series with the CareVets Scholarship, again finishing runner-up in the standings.
Sprague said he is “super grateful” to be selected in the Top 4 and is looking forward to testing himself against tough competition. “It will also be very cool to drive the new GR86 for the first time.
As we all know, this sport is very expensive, and the support of the Tony Quinn Foundation would be a massive help.”
Over the past four years, the Shootout has awarded more than $150,000 in scholarships to help young Kiwi drivers progress in the sport.
Previous winners include Matthew McCutcheon, William Exton, Jackson Rooney and most recently Chris White Jr, who went on to claim two race wins and Rookie of the Year honours in last season’s GR86 Championship.
White has since progressed to race alongside Tony Quinn in GT4 Australia, highlighted by a podium finish in tricky conditions at Queensland Raceway.
For the Foundation, the Shootout is about more than finding a winner — it’s about creating opportunities, building confidence, and backing the young drivers who represent the future of New Zealand motorsport.
That future will be on show at Hampton Downs on September 23, when one of these four finalists takes an important step forward in their journey.
Header Image: Dillon Photography
