Current Toyota 86 Champion Ryan Yardley has announced he will contest the Australian Toyota 86 Racing Series, which begins at the Phillip Island Racing Circuit in Victoria on April 21-23.
Yardley, 18, took his New Zealand title racing for the two-car CareVets team and his share of the championship’s $100,000 prize fund has helped make the Australian drive a reality.
He will race in Australia with Brian Hilton Motorsport, driving the car raced last year in Australia by Drew Ridge. Ridge finished 13th in the Australian series last year and was one of two Australians who contested the opening round of the New Zealand championship in November 2016.
Part of Yardley’s prize – in addition to the share of the prize fund – was an opportunity to race. Toyota 86 Championship Category Manager Geoff Short said securing a drive in the Australian championship was the logical pathway for Yardley.
“This gives Ryan a chance to race on the same programme as key rounds of the Australian V8 Supercar Championship. The Aussie series puts racers in front of massive audiences and top teams at the V8 rounds and it is a great way to get noticed,” said Mr Short.
The 2016 Australian 86 series champion, Will Brown, has now progressed to a V8 drive.
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