• Latest
  • Trending

Vodanovich keeping options open as Kiwi champion looks to fill calendar

August 28, 2020

Kostecki claims commanding Townsville win as Kiwi Payne just misses podium in Supercars Sprint opener

July 11, 2025

Kostecki claims pole as Kiwi contenders battle through tight Townsville qualifying

July 11, 2025
2023 VAILO Adelaide 500, Event 12 of the Repco Supercars Championship, Adelaide Street Circuit, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. 24 Nov, 2023.

Celebration of life planned for Tim Miles as Supercars paddock pays tribute

July 11, 2025

Randle tops Practice 2 as Matt Payne leads Kiwi charge in Townsville

July 11, 2025

Ryan Wood tops Practice 1 as Brown crashes late in Townsville

July 11, 2025

Bewley to make street circuit debut in Townsville Porsche Sprint Challenge Round

July 11, 2025

Rally Debut: Liam Lawson gets a taste of WRC in 2025 Ford Puma Rally1 car at Goodwood

July 11, 2025

Motorsport Diary: Kiwis racing overseas this weekend

July 11, 2025

LIVE: Goodwood Festival of Speed – Watch Liam Lawson, Greg Murphy, Mad Mike & more

July 10, 2025

Top US team HMD Motorsports confirmed for Toyota FR Oceania Trophy

July 10, 2025

Jacob Douglas scores podium, Sebastian Manson battles back in USF Pro Championship at Mid-Ohio

July 10, 2025
Friday, July 11, 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

Vodanovich keeping options open as Kiwi champion looks to fill calendar

by Zane Shackleton
August 28, 2020
in New Zealand, News, Toyota GR86 Championship
0

A champion with nowhere to go. That is the tricky predicament Peter Vodanovich has found himself in after having been crowned the 2019/20 Toyota 86 champion but with his current overseas intentions stalled amid the global pandemic.

The hard-charging Kiwi wrapped up the Best Bars Toyota 86 title prematurely when series organisers decided to make the revised finale from Hampton Downs a non-competition event.

It meant Vodanovich’s slender two-point advantage over Australian rival Jaylyn Robotham was sufficient enough to lift the crown, with Robotham a leading cause in the curtailed championship after travel restrictions kept him locked out of New Zealand.

But now it is the same issue facing Vodanovich who was slated to contest a Super3 campaign with the Erebus Academy in an FG Falcon across the ditch. Instead, he has been sat grounded at home while the championship kick-started in Sydney.

“Clearly with COVID 19 I haven’t been able to travel to and from Australia as intended,” Vodanovich told Velocity News.

“Unfortunately, I had to miss the first round of Super 3 with Erebus and at the moment I can’t see myself being allowed in to compete this year.”

Overseas border restrictions have problematised several of New Zealand’s international elites and hopefuls from fulfilling their racing plans. Vodanovich’s scenario is extremely similar to Toyota 86 rival Jaden Ransley who was set to land a drive in the TCR Australia championship only to have to his plans shelved at the last minute.

While an agonisingly annoying situation to deal with for our international stars of the future, the positive news for race fans is there has been a sudden surge of top Kiwi talent seeking seat time in and around the domestic scene.

Both the North and South Island Endurance Championships have been popular choices among the drivers, as has a possible Toyota Racing Series drive for our budding youngsters.

Plenty of opportunities exist for Vodanovich and he is certainly keeping all his options open. 

“In terms of what’s next, we have a few international offers we are looking at, but NZ is something we are likely to focus on until there’s more clarity around the COVID restrictions,'” he explained.

“I have had a great racing background with Toyota, starting my Journey in an MR2 and then into the 86 series. It would be cool to press on with Toyota if there is a good opportunity there.”

Image: Bruce Jenkins

Vodanovich did partake in the recent Toyota Racing Series official test from Hampton Downs between lockdown periods, and with uncertainty around how many international drivers will be able to enter the country for this year’s championship there exists a possibility of continuing his link with Toyota outside the 86 series.

“For now, the team will be looking at a few endurance opportunities and getting some seat time in our time attack Evo.

“I am also really excited to be keeping busy with the University of Auckland’s Formula SAE race team.

“The experience I can gain in the FSAE team in addition to my Mechanical Engineering degree will be hugely beneficial for my racing career.”

Vodanovich has ensured his Erebus Academy will come to something concrete in the future, though remains unsure when due to the global pandemic and uncertainty around international travel.

Vodanovich is still set to contest the non-competition round of the 86 championship from Hampton Downs on September 4-6.

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.