• Latest
  • Trending

Matthew McCutcheon wins Hampton Downs Academy Shootout

October 21, 2021

Respect and Rivalry: Zilisch vs. Van Gisbergen on NASCAR’s road courses

July 18, 2025

Cassidy backs Lawson: “People in motorsport have short memories”

July 18, 2025

Douglas heads to Toronto for penultimate round of USF Pro 2000 season

July 18, 2025
#88: Shane Van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing, Red Bull Chevrolet

Motorsport Diary: Kiwis racing overseas this weekend

July 18, 2025

Ben Stewart impresses in debut Australian Toyota GR Cup weekend at Townsville

July 17, 2025

McElrea denied podium in rollercoaster IMSA race at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park

July 17, 2025

Liam Lawson beats WRC Champions in impressive rally debut at Goodwood

July 16, 2025

Bamber back on the podium as Toyota endures tough São Paulo return

July 15, 2025
#88: Shane Van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing, Red Bull Chevrolet

“Nobody Can Run With Him”: Denny Hamlin and Co. hail SVG’s road course dominance after Sonoma victory

July 15, 2025

Consistent Hedge claims third-straight P6 at Iowa Speedway

July 15, 2025

Chaos and heartbreak for Kiwis in Porsche Sprint Challenge in Townsville

July 15, 2025
Saturday, July 19, 2025
VelocityNews
Subscribe
  • International
    • Formula 1
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • Formula E
    • Esports
    • Super GT
    • Super Formula
    • TCR
    • WEC
    • GT
    • Porsche Carrera Cup
    • BTCC
    • DTM
    • IMSA
    • IndyCar
    • Road to Indy
    • NASCAR
    • WRC
    • MotoGP
    • Motorcycle Racing
    • Historic Racing
  • New Zealand
    • Toyota Formula Regional
    • Toyota GR86 Championship
    • Rally
    • Speedway
    • Drifting
    • Formula Ford
    • Formula First
    • TCR NZ
    • TransTasman V8 Series
    • V8 Utes
    • GT New Zealand Championship
    • GTRNZ
    • Central Muscle Cars
    • Pirelli Porsche
    • Mazda Racing Series
    • NZ Endurance Championship
    • NIERDC
    • SIERDC
    • Pro8 South Island Series
    • SsangYong Utes
    • Kartsport
    • NZ Historic Racing
    • NZ General
  • Australia
    • Supercars
    • Super2
    • Australian V8 Touring Car Series
    • Porsche Carrera Cup Australia
    • Porsche Sprint Challenge
    • S5000
    • Australian GT
    • TCR AU
  • Features
    • Features
    • Opinion
    • Profile
    • Race Cars
  • Circuit News
  • Velocity TV
  • Performance Cars
  • Jobs
    • Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Job Dashboard
No Result
View All Result
VelocityNews
No Result
View All Result

Matthew McCutcheon wins Hampton Downs Academy Shootout

by Samantha Hine
October 21, 2021
in New Zealand, News, Toyota GR86 Championship
0

Matthew McCutcheon has won the Hampton Downs NZ Racing Academy (HDNZRA) shootout, earning $30,000 towards a campaign in the upcoming Best Bars Toyota 86 Championship. 

The winner was decided by a virtual shootout, judged by former CART series team owner Steve Horne, Highlands and Hampton Downs CEO Josie Spillane, and professional racing drivers Greg Murphy and Daniel Gaunt. 

“It’s an awesome start to the season. That really takes the pressure off. It’s not been so easy to get sponsorship in these Covid times, so that’s game changing help,” said McCutcheon.

“As soon as we saw the academy was offering this scholarship it was something I wanted to achieve. My dream is to end up racing in ‘tin-tops’ and this is the first transition towards that goal.”

Eighteen-year-old McCutcheon will make the move to the Toyota 86 series from single-seaters, having raced in the most recent season of Formula Ford. 

“It’s going to be completely different going from a single-seater to a tin-top, but to have an amazing team around me is what’s important in making that transition as easy as possible,” said McCutcheon

“The Rookie of the Year winner in the 86 championship gets a drive at Bathurst so I’ll definitely be going for that.”

The HDNZRA team see this as the first of many future scholarship opportunities for Kiwi drivers. 

Former CART championship team owner and Tony Quinn Foundation (TQF) trustee Horne was impressed by the finalists.

“It was a fantastic experience for both the trustees and the contenders. It was quite difficult to choose a winner. New Zealand motorsports has a bright future based on their qualities,” said Horne.

“Congratulations to Matthew for his winning effort and demeanour. Special thanks to Tony Quinn for his tireless commitment to NZ motorsport.”

The ongoing difficulties due to the pandemic forced interviews, questioning and testing to move online, with on-track activities at Hampton Downs also cancelled. 

Judges were so impressed by the finalists that they have given the runner ups Liam Sceats and Hayden Bakkerus $5000 each, to go towards their Formula Ford campaigns. 

“We were so impressed with all three of them, and while there can only be one winner, the committee decided on top of Matthew’s $30,000 scholarship to award a $5,000 sponsorship to both Hayden and Liam,” said Highlands and Hampton Downs CEO Josie Spillane.

“These three chaps become our first official ambassadors for the academy and we look forward to mentoring them through the season and watching their progress.

“Hats off to Tony Quinn, I’ve no doubt that his foundation is going to be a game changer for many young men and women in the years to come. He has started something very special.”

Image credit: Geoff Ridder

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact Us

© 2022 VelocityNews - Independent New Zealand and International Motorsport news.

No Result
View All Result
  • International
    • Formula 1
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • Formula E
    • Esports
    • Super GT
    • Super Formula
    • TCR
    • WEC
    • GT
    • Porsche Carrera Cup
    • BTCC
    • DTM
    • IMSA
    • IndyCar
    • Road to Indy
    • NASCAR
    • WRC
    • MotoGP
    • Motorcycle Racing
    • Historic Racing
  • New Zealand
    • Toyota Formula Regional
    • Toyota GR86 Championship
    • Rally
    • Speedway
    • Drifting
    • Formula Ford
    • Formula First
    • TCR NZ
    • TransTasman V8 Series
    • V8 Utes
    • GT New Zealand Championship
    • GTRNZ
    • Central Muscle Cars
    • Pirelli Porsche
    • Mazda Racing Series
    • NZ Endurance Championship
    • NIERDC
    • SIERDC
    • Pro8 South Island Series
    • SsangYong Utes
    • Kartsport
    • NZ Historic Racing
    • NZ General
  • Australia
    • Supercars
    • Super2
    • Australian V8 Touring Car Series
    • Porsche Carrera Cup Australia
    • Porsche Sprint Challenge
    • S5000
    • Australian GT
    • TCR AU
  • Features
    • Features
    • Opinion
    • Profile
    • Race Cars
  • Circuit News
  • Velocity TV
  • Performance Cars
  • Jobs
    • Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Job Dashboard

© 2022 VelocityNews - Independent New Zealand and International Motorsport news.