CareVets to the fore as racers grid up for Toyota 86 Championship
Eleven race drivers have already stepped up for the 2017-2018 Toyota 86 Championship, which starts in early November at the V8 Supercars race event.
Leading entries are the two-car CareVets Racing team, with last season’s rookie of the year Jack Milligan and young Pukekohe driver Liam Lawson, set to represent the 2016-2017 champion team.
The driving force behind the CareVets Racing team, and a generous scholarship won this year by Liam Lawson, is Dr Keith Houston of Hamilton. The team’s aim is to help young racers develop their skills in a professional team environment.
Carevets Racing joined the championship in 2015-2016 with a two-car team as the scholarship kicked off, and its form in the championship has been consistently strong. In its debut year, dual scholarship winners Ryan Yardley and Michael Scott were fourth and fifth; the following year lead driver Yardley won the championship and scholarship driver Jack Milligan was fourth and top rookie.
Dr Houston says the performance of the chosen drivers has been “superb’.
“We are very pleased with our selection of drivers and the scholarship is helping young racers hone their skills and develop their racing careers – exactly as we had planned.”
In the meantime, Liam Lawson (15) is finishing out his school year and contesting the FIA Australian Formula 4 Championship, where he is currently third overall with one round remaining.
Jack Milligan (21) is off to Bathurst next month for a one-off drive in the Australian 86 Championship. The drive has been organised by the New Zealand championship management in recognition of his performance in 2016-2017.
