Wanaka racer Marcel Bartley is confirmed for a full season in the Bridgestone GR86 Championship with Action Motorsport.
Marcel – 22- was an impressive performer in the recent Toyota 86 Trophy Series over the winter months for the older model car – improving round by round and securing his first podium during the final weekend of the series at Manfeild.
That impressive ability to learn and turn knowledge into track performance quickly is something he is aiming to take into the main championship when the Repco NextGen NZ Motorsport Championship series gets underway at the Taupo International Motorsport Park with the PTS Logistics season opener.
“I learnt heaps over the winter series, especially about racing with other cars and adapting to different tracks,” explained the qualified carpenter.
“Each round I felt more comfortable in the car and had a better idea of what I needed to work on. It’s given me a good base heading into the championship.
“I’m looking forward to the close racing and seeing how I go against a strong field. It’s a good opportunity and I’m grateful to be part of it. Mainly though, I’m just keen to get out there and enjoy the racing.
He’s been preparing hard off track for the highly competitive championship too. “I’ve spent plenty of time in the gym, along with heat chamber training and time on the sim, fitting it all around work. I’ve been using the sim to learn the tracks and putting plenty of work into my fitness so I’m prepared for the season.
“Hopefully when it all comes together we can get some good results this season. We’ve put a lot of work into it, so I’m keen to get out there, enjoy the racing and let that preparation do its job.”
With a long-term goal to make it into GT racing, Marcel is bringing an impressive list of sponsors to his GR86 campaign, including New World Three Parks, Stoked Stainless, Liquorland Three Parks and Joel Corry Building, I Love Ugly, Elite Fitness, BCITO and AllPorts Motorsport.
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