Christchurch racer Mac Templeton will compete in the full Toyota GR86 Championship this season.
Seventeen-year-old Templeton stayed within rookie rules, taking part in just two rounds of the championship last season at Hampton Downs and Taupo, and has the same new car for this season’s full rookie campaign.
He will join Chris White in the Christchurch-based Neale Motorsport effort in the six-round championship that runs mainly within the summer’s forthcoming NextGen NZ Championship series before concluding at the Supercars round at Taupo in April.
Neale Motorsport has an impressive history in Toyota championships in New Zealand, running the winning title campaign of 2014 with a Toyota FT-40 for Andrew Tang, but this is the first time they have challenged for the Toyota 86 title with a two-car team.
Templeton is an experienced racer, having excelled in Mazdas in both the North and South Island series and in karting before that.
Long term, he would like to race in Australia in the Supercar championship, but right now, he is in no doubt about the challenge that lies ahead on New Zealand tracks after his initial experience in his GR86 last season.
“My debut weekend in the GR86 was at Round 5 Hampton Downs, and I learned pretty quickly that no one in the field is here to mess around,” he explained.
“Everyone is so similar in pace, so I really needed to work hard in practice to sort out my qualifying because I knew it was not going to be easy. I was very happy to come away with a couple of top 10s on my debut.
“The season ahead is the biggest challenge I’ve faced yet. I’m sure the competition will be at just as high a standard, but with the team at Neale Motorsport, I am confident and excited to work to the best of my ability this season.
“We have done some preparation for the season ahead and are learning all the time about the cars and what’s required to push it to the limit.
“My objective for the season ahead is definitely aiming to take out the Rookie of the Year title. My new teammate Chris won it last season, and a GR86 drive at Bathurst is an amazing prize, and I want to claim that this season.
“It will not be easy with the competition there will be amongst the rookies this year, but I have a lot of the best people in my team to help me build myself and do what it takes.”
The Toyota GR86 Championship begins at the end of October with the first round at Hampton Downs on the international layout. A break until the 9th–11th January is followed by a return to the North Waikato circuit, again on the long track.
The championship heads south two weeks later for the double header at Teretonga 23-25 January) and the NZ Grand Prix meeting at Highlands the following weekend.
It’s back to the North Island for the final two rounds, with Manfeild February 27th- March 1st and the big finale at the Supercars weekend at Taupo on April 10-12.
Header Image: Bruce Jenkins
