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CATEGORY MANAGEMENTTHE TOYOTA 86 CHAMPIONSHIP IS AN INDEPENDENTLY ORGANISED MOTORSPORT NEW ZEALAND CHAMPIONSHIP WITH TECHNICAL SUPPORT AND BACKING FROM TOYOTA NEW ZEALAND LIMITED.

Geoff Short is the appointed Category Manager, Josh Greenland manages all technical aspects of the series and Events Manager Katrina Wardill oversees logistics and hospitality.

Speed Works Ltd will be working out of a brand new purpose build facility at Hampton Downs and one that the team are very proud to be a part of.

TR 86 CATEGORY MANAGERGeoff ShortP: 021 825 911E: geoff@ toyotaracing.co.nz

PUBLIC RELATIONSMark BakerVeritas CommunicationsP: 021 212 0607E: veritas.nz@ xtra.co.nz

CONTACT

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MEDIA RESOURCES

FACEBOOKFeatures live discussion, up-to-the-minute news and race day galleries.facebook.com/ToyotaRacingNZ

TWITTER@ToyotaRacingNZFeatures live score updates every race day

YOUTUBEFeatures highlights from the race daysyoutube.com/user/ToyotaRacingSeries

CONTENTSCONTENTSCATEGORY MANAGEMENT 3CONTACT 3CONTENTS 4MEDIA RESOURCES 5ABOUT TR 86 4THE CAR 5LEASE PACKAGE 5TROPHY CABINET 6CALENDAR 7DRIVER PROFILES 9 ASH BLEWETT 10 JOHN PENNY 11 REID HARKER 12 MICHAEL SCOTT 13 TOM STOKES 14 MATT LOCKWOOD 15 CONNOR ADAM 16 MILES COCKRAM 17 DREW RIDGE 18 JACK MILLIGAN 19 RYAN YARDLEY 20 BRODY MCCONKEY 21 JACOB SMITH 22 BEN MACDONALD 23 JADEN RANSLEY 24 MIKE LIGHTFOOT 25 WILLIAM BROWN 26RESULTS 28 PARTNERS 2016/2017 29

Toyota Racing New Zealand and the media team are available to assist with any media requests, including requests for driver interviews. Media are also encouraged to utilise the following resources:

Ash Blewett, 2015-2016 Championship Winner. Photo by Bruce Jenkins.

TRNZ MOTORSPORT MEDIA LISTFor all media releases, qualifying updates and official results; to check that you’re on the list or to update your details, please email: press@toyota.co.nz

TOYOTA RACING WEBSITEFor standings, driver profiles, live lap-timings and all the latest news.

TRNZ APP - RACE MONITORAvailable on both Android and iPhone; includes live lap times and results.

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ABOUT TR 86Toyota’s acclaimed 86 sports coupe returns for a fourth championship season after making its debut on New Zealand’s race tracks in 2013 using a locally developed Toyota Racing version called TR 86.New Zealand’s leading single make championship for sports coupe cars has attracted its strongest-ever entry.

Conceived as a stepping stone to greater things, the Toyota 86 Championship is an intensely competitive six round premier-level championship that attracts rising racers and some of the highest profile names in New Zealand motorsport.

THE CARBoasting a six point FIA-approved roll cage, integrated Motec dash, Sparco touring-car race seat and race steering wheel, the TR 86 is ideal for Toyota 86 Championship drivers.

The vehicles also feature specially-tuned adjustable suspension, a racing brake package and run on 18-inch Speedline motorsport wheels fitted with Michelin slick tyres.

“The 86 RC that forms the basis of the series cars is a fun and challenging car to drive – very agile, with impressive mid corner speed,” Category Manager Geoff Short says.

LEASE PACKAGECars are available to lease for drivers, either to those seeking experience in a saloon based category or as a stepping stone to the Castrol Toyota Racing Series single seaters. Cars can be leased on a dry hire basis, or a fully managed package through a team.

“Our aim has always been to offer a race series that challenges drivers and helps them develop their skills”, Toyota New Zealand Motorsport Manager Steve Boyce says.

“We know there are many drivers – especially young drivers – who would like the chance to try their hand in the championship. So far we have seen people either buy cars outright or race with the support of a team and a car owner. This initiative adds a further way to get on the grid”.

“The TR 86 platform lends itself to all forms of motorsport and we believe the car will have excellent resale value based on its versatility,” he said.

• D-4S direct injection technology• 147kW @7,000rpm• 205Nm of torque @ 6,400rpm

The series shares billing with V8SuperCars, NZ Touring Cars, New Zealand’s premier motor racing championship the Toyota Racing Series, and includes the New Zealand Grand Prix weekend at Manfeild in February 2017.

Going into its fourth year, the championship welcomes a fresh draft of talented racers expected to make the racing at each of the six rounds a close-fought battle.

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CALENDAR

ROUND 1: PUKEKOHE 5-6 NOV, 2016

ROUND 2: TAUPO 10-11 DEC, 2016

ROUND 3: RUAPUNA 14-15 JAN, 2017

ROUND 4: TERETONGA 21-22 JAN, 2017

ROUND 5: MANFEILD 11-12 FEB, 2017

ROUND 6: HAMPTON DOWNS 11-12 MAR, 2017

PUKEKOHE TAUPO RUAPUNA

TERETONGA MANFIELD HAMPTON DOWNS

TROPHY CABINETDRIVERS WILL COMPETE FOR THE COVETED TOYOTA 86 CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY, THE TOYOTA 86 MASTERS TROPHY AND THE TOYOTA 86 ROOKIE OF THE YEAR TROPHY.

TOYOTA 86 CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHYAt the Annual MotorSport New Zealand Awards Function the overall winner (highest overall points scorer from all Rounds of the Championship) will be awarded the Toyota 86 Championship Trophy.

Note: The Toyota 86 Championship Trophy will be presented first for promotional purposes at the Toyota 86 Awards Function which takes place after the final Round of the Championship.

TOYOTA 86 MASTERS TROPHYThe title of 86 Masters will be awarded to the driver aged 40 years of age and over with highest overall points.

TOYOTA 86 ROOKIE OF THE YEAR TROPHYThe title of 86 Rookie of the Year will be awarded to the driver with highest overall points.

Note: To be eligible for the Rookie of the Year award, drivers must have entered and competed in no more than three rounds of any previous Toyota 86 Championship and must have entered and competed in no more than three rounds of any equivalent or higher level category within the last 12 months. Toyota Racing New Zealand Management reserves the right to approve eligibility. The intention is that this trophy will be awarded to a driver of limited relevant experience at this level of motorsport.

DRIVER PROFILES

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JOHN PENNYAuckland

Born: 21 December 1966Team: Neil Allport Motorsports

#3ASH BLEWETT

AucklandBorn: 6 June 1990

Team: West City Motorsport

Auckland’s Ash Blewett returns to the championship he dominated in 2015-2016 looking to put his undeniable driving talent on show once more.

Fresh from a run in the Australian 86 series at Bathurst, Ash returns to New Zealand’s leading single-make series aiming to put his West City TR 86 on the podium.

The 26 year old was second in the inaugural championship, third overall in 2014-2015 and then won in 2015-2016.

Ash began racing karts in 2004 and switched to single-make series in 2007, moving up from BMWs to the 86 championship when it made its debut in 2013. His extensive experience in one-make racing meant he was immediately at home in the high intensity cut and thrust of the Toyota series, which uses purpose-built racing versions of Toyota’s award-winning 86 sports coupe.

Ash says the TR 86 rewards judgement, balance and finesse. Because the racing is very close, one small error can cost a driver dearly in qualifying or races.A mechanical engineer by profession, Ash wants to combine his passion for motorsport with a career with a top race team.

#1 Auckland’s John Penny returns for his second season in the championship. In 2015-2016 he stepped from a V8 and Porsche racing career into the Toyota Finance 86 Championship.

John first raced in 2005 in Formula Challenge, a single-seater category.

Coming from the brute force of the NZ V8 Supertourer series in 2015 he traded a sledgehammer for a scalpel, moving into a premier single-make championship that places emphasis on finesse and judgement and rewards a fine touch on every control available to the driver.

The reward: a no-holds-barred battle to the final chequered flag, wheel to wheel with Ash Blewett and Callum Quin at every round. With podium finishes at every round, John won the second race of the Manfeild round and was third in the championship.He is back this year with a new car, aiming to win the championship outright.

John is sponsored by Penny Homes and Aqualine Roofing Products.

https://www.driverdb.com/drivers/john-pennyhttps://www.driverdb.com/drivers/ashley-blewett

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REID HARKERAlbany

Born: 22 August 1995Team: Ascent Motorsport

Albany-based Reid Harker is starting his second season in the Toyota 86 Championship.

He has risen through karting, beginning in 2009 and a year later winning the Top Half Series Junior 100cc Yamaha class and the North Island Sprint Kart Championship Junior 100cc Yamaha class outright.

The following year, he won the Formula Junior class at the Kartsport NZ Schools Championship and the junior class at the Arai Rotax Max Challenge.

More recently he has raced Formula Ford and the BMW single make series. Reid contested three Formula First races in 2013-2014 and then had a limited season in the 2014-2015 Toyota Finance 86 Championship, contesting three races and finishing 13th for the series. He has also raced BMW’s popular E30 one-make series.

A full season in the 86 championship in 2015-2016 was marred by a crash at the first round, but Reid bounced back and finished the championship seventh overall.

Reid Harker is sponsored by Aegis Oil, Washworld, Wayne Scott Panel and Ryno Power.

#4MICHAEL SCOTT

Te PukeBorn: 2 December 1994

Michael Scott made his Toyota 86 debut as one of two drivers awarded CareVets Racing scholarships for the 2015-2016 Toyota Finance 86 Championship.

A leading competitor in recent Formula Ford championships, Michael also contested the Toyota Racing Series for two seasons, fitting his single-seater commitments into a busy academic life studying mechanical engineering at Canterbury University.

Micahel’s karting career started in 2007 and includes no less than 18 major events and championships, with a best result of fourth overall coming in the 2011 Kartsport NZ Schools Championship, racing in the 100cc Yamaha Light category. Second in Formula Ford in 2014-2015, Michael did double duty in 2015-2016, racing his Formula Ford alongside his Toyota 86 at many of the events.

Hard work brought its own reward - not only did he win the Formula Ford championship but he was also fourth overall in the 86 series, edging out teammate Ryan Yardley who was fifth. This year Michael is back and running his own car alongside the CareVets team

Michael is sponsored by Northland Toyota, Eastpack and Southern Cross Hort

#5

https://www.driverdb.com/drivers/reid-harker https://www.driverdb.com/drivers/michael-scott

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TOM STOKESAuckland

Born 12 July 1995

Tom Stokes was a ‘super rookie’ in the 2015-2016 Toyota Finance 86 Series.

Not only was the passionate race fan making his 86 championship debut, he was also taking his first steps in motor racing.

A steady and consistent run through the championship brought him home tenth overall in a field that eventually stretched to 28 drivers.

To continue making progress, Tom has raced the North Island winter endurance series and he is looking to build on last year’s racing results.

Tom is sponsored by Angus Steak House, Rocket Apples and Resene Automotive Paints

#6MATT LOCKWOOD

AucklandBorn: 29 November 1987

Western Springs’ Matt Lockwood started motor racing in the crowd-pleasing HQ Holden one-make category, raced in and won back to back titles in the New Zealand RX7 single-make series and then stepped up into V8 ute and V8 Touring Car racing.

He won the V8 Ute series in 2008, was second in 2009 and won the NZ V8 Challenge Cup in 2012. Most recently, he shared the United Video V8 Supertourer with Craig Baird.

Now Lockwood (28) switches from the brute force of a V8 touring car to the refined handling and driving dynamics of the TR 86 race cars.

It is the first time he has contested a premier single-make championship in a four cylinder race car and he says he is enjoying the finesse the category demands.

Testing has revealed much of the nature of the TR 86 car he is leasing for the championship and Lockwood says he is excited by the prospect of competing in a 20-strong grid of identical cars.

Matt Lockwood is sponsored by Placemakers, softub.co.nz and McMillan & Lockwood

#7

driverdb.com/drivers/thomas-stokes

https://www.facebook.com/mattlockwoodracing

https://www.driverdb.com/drivers/matthew-lockwood

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CONNOR ADAMAuckland

Born: 8 November 1998Team: International Motorsport

Connor Adam is stepping up from a successful start in karting with a best of third in the Top Half Series, racing in the Formula Junior class.

This is his first outing in full-sized cars and he will race with International Motorsport.

#9

https://www.facebook.com/pnut49

https://www.driverdb.com/drivers/connor-adam

MILES COCKRAMChristchurch

Born: 18 December 1999

Miles is a relative newcomer to motor racing.

Having contested events in utes and the Canterbury Car Club’s “Rennsport’ category for German race cars in a Porsche Boxster, he contested six races of the 2015-2016 Toyota Finance 86 Championship.

Miles is sponsored by Zic Oil, Euromarque, Cockram Motor Group. Victory and Indian.

#11

https://www.driverdb.com/drivers/miles-cockram

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DREW RIDGEMatcham, New South Wales, Australia

Born: 15 January 1999Team: Albany Toyota

Drew Ridge comes to the New Zealand Toyota 86 Championship with five years of karting experience and is a graduate of the CAMS driver academy.

The 17 year old from Matcham in New South Wales has also competed in – and won – the Formula BMW Asia series and raced the Australian Formula 4 championship.

Ridge will race as part of a two-car Albany Toyota presence in the championship.

In May 2017 he heads for Europe to race in the invitation-only Audi TT Cup. Fluent in Japanese, he has aspirations to race in that country longer-term.

#14

https://www.driverdb.com/drivers/drew-ridge

JACK MILLIGANChristchurch

Born: 17 August 1996Team: CareVets Racing

#17

https://www.facebook.com/Jack-Milligan-Motorsport-1456570031287607/

https://www.driverdb.com/drivers/jack-milligan

Jack Milligan won the 2016-2017 CareVets Racing Scholarship to compete in the Toyota 86 Championship, defeating 11 other candidates in the process.

Jack, 20, was one of 12 aspiring racers seeking the drive who were pre-selected to attend the assessment day at Hampton Downs in the North Waikato.

The judges were CareVets owner Keith Houston, Toyota 86 category manager Geoff Short and motorsport icon Greg Murphy. Jack has raced karts from 2011-2013 and most recently has been a leading competitor in the ‘Pro7’ RX7 Series, finishing second overall in 2015-2016.

The CareVets Scholarship places Jack in a two-car team alongside 2015-2016 scholarship co-winner and championship rookie title holder Ryan Yardley. Jack will race in the CareVets team’s #17 car with its distinctive ‘cheetah’ graphic.

Jack is sponsored by CareVets, Dynes Transport, Protranz Earthmoving, DGS Bulk Distribution, Consortium Construction, Miles Advisory Partners and Magnum Prestige.

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RYAN YARDLEYChristchurch

Born: 7 July 1998Team: CareVets Racing

#18

https://www.driverdb.com/drivers/ryan-yardley

In 2015-2016, Christchurch student Ryan Yardley was selected as one of two CareVets Racing scholarship winners, competing alongside Michael Scott. Six years of karting competition and two Formula Ford championships paved the way for him to step into a drive in New Zealand’s leading single make sports car championship. The result: in the team’s debut year, Ryan followed Michael home, the pair placing fourth and fifth in the championship and Yardley being named top rookie.

Ryan, 18, will once more race as part of the two-car team racing in the 2016-2017 Toyota 86 Championship. With a record entry list for the series, he knows his speed and race craft will once more be crucial to getting good results.

He knows testing is never as intense as racing and with the cars so evenly matched drivers cannot afford to make even the smallest mistake. Consistency, he says, counts for everything.

Ryan will race in the CareVets team’s number 18 car with its distinctive ‘tiger’ graphics.

BRODY MCCONKEYOtaki

Born: 4 November 1998Team: Albany Toyota

In at the deep end: with no prior experience of karting, Brody started racing in Formula First in 2013.

At his first race he was seventh overall, second of seven rookies. At the end of that first season he won the annual one hour endurance race for the category.

In the intervening years he has contested the Formula First championship, the one hour endurance race and the winter series in that category. He was fourth outright in 2014-2015 and third outright in 2015-2016.

Though the 2016-2017 Toyota 86 Championship is his first step into full-size car racing the record grid this year will be no shock for the young racer – the Formula First grids regularly comprise 22-24 race cars.

Brody is sponsored by Albany Toyota.

#23

https://www.driverdb.com/drivers/brody-mcconkey

https://www.facebook.com/Brodymcconkey23

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JACOB SMITHAuckland

Born: 27 April 1999

A leading contender for the rookie title in the 2015-2016 Toyota Finance 86 Championship, Jacob finished sixth outright in a field that eventually numbered 27.

Jacob began his motor racing career in karting at age eight. He has raced in a range of karting classes and won the Junior 100cc Yamaha class in the 2012 Top Half Series.

After five years of karting he moved up to Formula First in 2012-2013, making the jump to the Toyota Finance 86 championship for 2015-2016.

In July 2016, Jacob was accepted for the Motorsport New Zealand Elite Driver Academy, and emerged top graduate.

Jacob is sponsored by Tony Richards Toyota and Post Haste.

#27

https://www.driverdb.com/drivers/jacob-smith

BEN MACDONALDAuckland

Born: 21 August 1995

Ben knows one-make racing.

He contested the 2013 season of the now-defunct Suzuki Swift Championship, finishing sixth with two podium results to his credit.

Stepping up to the faster and more sophisticated TR 86 race cars used in the Toyota 86 Championship is an exciting more for the young racer.

Ben is sponsored by MacDonald Halligan.

#35

https://www.driverdb.com/drivers/ben-macdonald

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JADEN RANSLEYChristchurch

Born: 16 January 2002

#53

https://www.driverdb.com/drivers/jaden-ransley

Jaden Ransley is taking on a premier motor racing championship this summer. Born after the turn of the century and just 14 years old, Jaden is a student at St Thomas of Canterbury College. He is stepping directly from a successful karting career and joining a category-record grid of racers all with their eyes on the championship’s top prize and a share of the $100,000 championship prize purse.

He won the 100cc Junior Yamaha Class at the 2015 Kartsport NZ South Island Sprint Championship and this year won the same class at the 2016 Kartsport NZ Sprint Championship.

Jaden has tested at Hampton Downs and was a finalist in the 2016-2017 CareVets Racing Toyota Scholarship. Fellow Christchurch racer Ryan Yardley has been a valuable source of advice.

Jaden is sponsored by Harcourts and Lighting Plus.

MIKE LIGHTFOOTAuckland

Born: 29 September 1964 Team: Neil Allport Motorsport

He’s back for another run at the title. Mike Lightfoot has had a series of motorsport careers: he has raced in the brutal thunder of New Zealand’s V8 Ute series, has been a successful motocross rider, rally driver and kart racer.

In 2015-2016 he turned his attention to the close racing of New Zealand’s Toyota 86 Championship.

The transition from a 1.8 tonne V8 Ute with an intermediate tyre to the TR 86 on Michelin slicks in 2015-2016 was a challenge in early rounds. Mike says the 86, well known for its fine balance and handling capabilities required a re-think of his driving style – all while surrounded by a phalanx of eager young racers all vying for the same line into a corner.

Mike is sponsored by SEW Eurodrive, EHL Energy Hydraulics Ltd and World Travellers Milford.

#96

https://www.driverdb.com/drivers/mike-lightfoot

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WILLIAM BROWNToowoomba, Queensland Australia

Born: 5 June 1998Team: Lighting Plus

Will Brown, 18, has a strong background in karting and single-seater racing and is competing in the inaugural Australian Toyota 86 Series.

Will currently leads the Australian 86 series and has just won the Australian Formula 4 championship. He is also a front-runner in the Australian Formula Ford series. It’s been a frenetic six years since he first started in karting and the wins have come thick and fast for the Toowoomba-based driver.

He has two state karting championship titles to his name and a second place at national level, has raced several seasons in both karts and Formula Ford and was third in Australian Formula 4 as a rookie in 2015. With the 2016 Formula 4 title confirmed, a likely win in the Australian 86 series and the Formula Ford title still to fight for, he says he is looking forward to the challenge of the New Zealand 86 Championship.

The Kiwi cars are built for the championship and have a different specification from the Australian cars. New Zealand’s TR 86 race cars run on slick tyres with a wet race option available.

Will Brown will race with the Lighting Plus team. In 2017 he hopes to race the Australian Porsche Carrera Cup.

#99

https://www.driverdb.com/drivers/william-brown

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RESULTSCURRENT DRIVER STANDINGS FOLLOWING ROUND TWO, TAUPO 10-11 DECEMBER 2016