Australian TA2 racer Tyler Cheney is heading back across the Tasman, bringing his Chevrolet Camaro to New Zealand to contest the remaining rounds of the 2026 SP Tools TA2 NZ Championship.
For Cheney, the trip to New Zealand is something of a return visit, having already experienced racing at Taupō Motorsport Park during the Supercars Championship event in April.
On that occasion, Cheney competed aboard a Dodge Challenger, with his weekend cut short when Cyclone Vaianu forced the cancellation of much of the programme. Despite the challenging conditions and limited track time, Cheney managed to secure an impressive fourth-place finish in the only race completed.
Now returning to Taupō, this time behind the wheel of his familiar Chevrolet Camaro, Cheney believes that previous experience will prove valuable.
“It was great to experience a new track, although it was a shame the weekend was cut short,” said Cheney.
“I drive a Camaro in Australia, so to race a new track in a Dodge was another challenge. I’m definitely a lot more confident coming back to Taupō with that little bit of experience.
“Knowing the track layout now and the techniques I need to build on to master the circuit will definitely be an advantage.”
Cheney was particularly impressed by the variety of corners and technical challenges offered by the Taupō circuit, which he says is unlike anything he has experienced racing in Australia.
“I really enjoyed Taupō. The track has a lot of different corners, from the long sweeper to the chicane. There are so many different sections in the one circuit, which makes it quite different to any Australian track.
“Unfortunately, with the wet conditions last time, I didn’t get to enjoy it as much as I would have liked. Hopefully, this time we’ll get some sunshine!
“I’m definitely looking forward to going back. I had a great start last time, so I’d like to finish what I started.”
While Cheney will undoubtedly be looking for strong results against the New Zealand field, he says the opportunity to gain further experience on different circuits is an important part of his development as a driver.
Now in just his fourth year of competitive circuit racing, Cheney has progressed rapidly through the ranks, beginning with a season in Hyundai Excels before spending two years racing Toyota 86s and subsequently stepping up to TA2 and Trans Am competition.
“Getting more experience at different tracks will be of great benefit to my driving,” he said.
“This is only my fourth year of racing. I spent one year in Excels, two years in Toyota 86s, and now I’m racing TA2 and Trans Am.
“I come from a soccer and motocross background, rather than go-karts, so my aim is to get as much driving experience as I possibly can.”
Cheney’s New Zealand campaign comes at an important time in his Australian racing season, where he is currently sitting second in the TA2 championship standings, with just three points separating the leading three drivers heading into the final round in November.
Having led the championship earlier in the season, Cheney remains firmly in contention for the title despite a difficult penultimate round.
“I had a great start to the season and managed to build a good lead in the championship points,” he explained.
“Unfortunately, at the last round I was involved in a racing incident, which meant I came away from the weekend with minimal points.
“I’ll definitely be giving it 110 percent at the final round and hopefully I can come away as the 2026 TA2 champion.”
Round two of the SP Tools TA2 NZ Championship gets underway at Taupō Motorsport Park Nov 13-15.
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