Rowan Shepherd has confirmed he will defend his Best Bars Toyota 86 championship title this season.
The 29-year-old came out on top in a hotly contested 2020/21 season.
Shepherd eventually pipped Simon Evans and Ryan Wood to the title in a final-round showdown at Taupo.
The experienced Kiwi racer is now prepared to tackle a second consecutive season, with his eyes locked on an upgraded prize package.
Not only will this season’s champion receive a test in an FT60 Toyota Racing Series car, but they will also get a test in a Triple Eight Engineering V8 Supercar in Australia.
“The coming season is looking to be great with some attractive prizes and a very strong number of competitors,” said the champion.
Upwards of 22 cars will be on the grid for the six-round season, which includes a return to the South Island after a one-year hiatus.
The opportunity to race in the South Island, specifically his home circuit of Ruapuna in Christchurch, was a big reason Shepherd says he wanted to race again.
“It’s awesome to see the unique South Island tracks back on the Toyota 86 calendar and adds another element for many drivers that have not driven on these tracks.”
2021/22 Toyota 86 calendar
| Rnd | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hampton Downs | Nov 12-14 |
| 2 | Pukekohe | Dec 3-5 |
| 3 | Highlands | Jan 14-16 |
| 4 | Ruapuna | Jan 21-23 |
| 5 | Hampton Downs | Feb 11-13 |
| 6 | Taupo | Mar 25-27 |