The Heart of Racing team will run a four-car team in this year’s Best Bars Toyota 86 Championship.
The opportunity will offer budding Kiwi drivers the chance to compete in the full season as part of The Heart of Racing’s new academy programme.
Three cars will race across the season. The fourth will be an additional entry at particular meetings and have testing duties for the team.
Selected drivers will receive mentorship from The Heart of Racing’s international driver roster, including New Zealand Endurance champions Alex Riberas and Darren Kelly.
The academy will run in conjunction with International Motorsport.
The Heart of Racing says the academy has an overarching focus on junior driver development.
“It’s a pleasure to start this new adventure with The Heart of Racing,” International Motorsport founder Lyall Williamson said.
“We saw great success with the former GT3 team and now it is time to work at the other end of a driver’s journey and get some talented kids in the car.”
Today’s announcement follows last month’s news, confirming that the 2021/22 series winner will receive a test in a Toyota Racing Series car and a Triple Eight Supercar.
Toyota 86 category manager Geoff Short expects over 20 cars to challenge for the title this year.
“As the pieces of the jigsaw fall into place it’s becoming clear that the 2021-2022 Best Bars Toyota 86 Championship is going to be the biggest in our nine year history,” Short said.
“Having The Heart of Racing so involved in the next championship is going to be great for the category and is an endorsement of how far we have come over the years.”
Drivers who will race for The Heart of Racing will be announced closer to the start of the new season.
Main Image: Andy Kruy