Dylan Thomson, from Waiuku in southern Auckland, is looking to learn from New Zealand’s best when he participates in the inaugural Hyundai NZ Young Driver Shootout taking place on 9 and 10 December.
Designed by Kiwi world rally star Hayden Paddon in partnership with Hyundai New Zealand, the young driver shootout sees 21-year-old Thomson up against four other young rally drivers for the chance to win a major boost to his motorsport career aspirations. The shootout winner will benefit from the opportunity to drive the Hyundai NZ AP4 i20 rally car run by Paddon Rallysport in two rounds of the 2017 New Zealand Rally Championship, testing and training with Paddon, plus the potential for an expanded programme in 2018.
Thomson, who’s an apprentice panel beater by day, says: “My one goal in life is to make it to the World Rally Championship, so I’m really hoping to take a lot away from this weekend – not just the driving skills, but also the planning and preparation needed for a future offshore campaign utilising Hayden’s experiences, knowledge and learning skills for the steps needed to create a future in international rallying. If I don’t win, I still take an array of new skills and knowledge to help in my NZRC campaign in 2017, and for my future career in rallying.”
With a background in dirt track speedway, Thomson was a rookie driver in the 2016 New Zealand Rally Championship. Despite some mechanical challenges which put Thomson and 15-year-old co-driver Amy Hudson out of two of the five rounds, Thomson finished second in the rookie driver championship and a very credible third place in the two-wheel-drive (2WD) category – a result he rates as his biggest motorsport success to date.
Running near Auckland, the Hyundai NZ Young Driver Shootout includes lessons and assessments on fitness, how to identify and look after sponsors, nutrition, media presence, career planning, writing pace notes and car set-up. The finalists also get a day in the forest where they will be writing and driving to their own pace notes in the Hyundai AP4 car.
“I’m looking forward to learning from New Zealand best Hayden Paddon and his co-driver John Kennard,” says Thomson of the shootout. “The things I learn will help me grow in knowledge and skills in this great sport. This is a fantastic opportunity to participate in a lifetime dream; a great programme for young drivers to learn and improve in their skills. Thanks to Hyundai NZ and Hayden for this opportunity and selecting me as one of the top five finalists in the shootout.”
Thomson will have Hudson alongside him for the in-car section. “We both love rallying and work well together in the car. We also both have the same dream of getting into the WRC and making a career out of this amazing sport. I can’t wait to drive the AP4 car; they are really great cars and the Hyundai i20 looks amazing. I’ve always wanted to drive one so will be a really good opportunity to get behind the wheel and experience a whole new level of rally car.”
Thomson joins four other finalists selected from more than 180 applicants:
· Max Bayley, 20, Hawke’s Bay
· Sloan Cox, 24, Rotorua
· Job Quantock, 22, Ashburton
· Matt Summerfield, 24, Rangiora
The Hyundai NZ Young Driver Shootout finalists will be assessed over the two days by Paddon, rally driver Reece Jones, talented teens Pinnacle Programme leader Bernice Mene, Newshub senior sports reporter Shaun Summerfield and former Rally New Zealand chairman Chris Carr.
“We want all finalists to take as much as they can away from the shootout weekend,” says Paddon. “We are not looking for the fastest driver – we are looking for someone with that X factor who has the ability to learn and develop into a leading rally driver, both nationally and internationally, while representing the Hyundai brand.”
Hyundai NZ Young Driver Shootout and Scholarship was open to drivers aged 16-25 with applicants having contested a minimum of 10 rallies, including four pace-noted rallies. Six more applicants – Jack Williamson, Max Tregilgas, Michael McLean, Chris McLean, Ari Pettigrew and Jack Hawkeswood – have been invited to participate in the classroom day.
The Hyundai NZ Young Driver Shootout and Scholarship winner will be announced on 11 December.
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