Rising New Zealand star Chris White makes his return to the Monochrome GT4 Australia Series this weekend when he begins a three-round cameo at the second round of the series at The Bend.
White’s victory in the Bridgestone GR86 Championship secured the top prize of a drive in Rounds 2, 3 and 4 of the Aussie series with Garth Walden’s Sydney-based GWR Australia team in its GR Supra GT4 EVO2 alongside Daniel Frougas.
The pair face a stern challenge this coming weekend in the third round of the series at Bend, with opposition likely to come from a big field including Porsche, Ford, BMW, McLaren, and Mercedes.
Christchurch-based White is aiming to build on experience gained last year when his GR86 rookie title secured him a round in the series alongside Tony Quinn in his GR Supra GT4 EVO2 and is optimistic about his and the team’s prospects – especially as he already has vital experience at The Bend and ran well in testing last week.
“It was fantastic being back in a GR Supra GT4 EVO2 in Australia,” he said.
“The Bend is one of the best tracks I’ve ever driven, and I’m super pumped for the first round.
“I got my first taste of the GT4 experience nearly 10 months ago last year, so I feel like I’m well-prepped for what’s to come.
“I’ve been pouring over my notes and the footage I have from last year when I raced with Tony in his Supra, so it definitely helps to already have some experience in Australia. I think it’s wise not to have expectations too high for this first round, but I do believe Daniel and I are a good pairing and can aim to fight in or around the top five.
“Daniel is currently racing by himself, so I think it will help to have another mind behind the wheel and giving feedback to the team because the more information we give the team, the more they can tune the car up. And that’s always a good thing!”
Nicolas Caillol, TGRNZ Motorsport Manager, said the GT4 prize will provide Chris with valuable exposure within a highly competitive international framework.
“The transition from GR86 into GT4 offers drivers experience in a well‑established professional environment, racing alongside leading teams and manufacturers under SRO regulations,” he explained.
“Competing in the Monochrome GT4 Australia Series with the GR Supra GT4 EVO2 gives drivers the opportunity to develop technically, adapt to longer races and work within a multi‑driver, multi‑session format. It’s a logical next step that adds real value to a driver’s development while contributing to a competitive manufacturer program.”
It’s been a busy few weeks for White as he prepares for his return to the Monochrome GT4 Australia Series. At the recent Ruapuna round of Supercars, he was part of the Walkinshaw team running the Toyotas of Ryan Wood and Chaz Mostert and loved the experience.
“It was really interesting to see how an Australian-based team worked compared with what I am used to in New Zealand, and I have to say it was one of the most enjoyable weekends I have had in racing, and I wasn’t even in the car!”
Team boss Walden has been impressed with White’s work ethic during testing and is upbeat on the team’s prospects this coming weekend too, adding: “We had a successful test day last week and were very impressed with Chris’s speed, technical feedback and overall attitude. We look forward to seeing what our two young drivers can deliver this weekend at The Bend.”
Toyota arrives at The Bend leading the Global GT4 Manufacturer Championship, a reflection of the consistency and competitiveness of the GR Supra GT4 platform across SRO championships worldwide.
There are no fewer than five GR Supra GT4 EVO2 cars on the grid this weekend, all eligible as manufacturer points scorers.
“Chris is part of a collective effort, where every lap contributes to Toyota’s broader manufacturer campaign and long‑term commitment to customer racing excellence,” added Caillol.
Action gets underway with free practice on Friday morning and afternoon, qualifying on Saturday morning and the first one-hour race on Saturday afternoon. The second one-hour gets underway on Sunday morning.
Header Image: SRO Australia
