Riley keeping it in the family for first Toyota 86 Trophy Series
Hamilton racer Riley Boswell will be continuing his rise through the ranks of New Zealand motorsport with a campaign in the forthcoming Toyota 86 Trophy Series.
Sixteen-year-old Boswell has been building a reputation as a stand-out racer in the BMW series in recent seasons having started karting at the tender age of just seven.
Riley will be keeping it in the family as he has done throughout his motorsport career so far, with the family team REB Motorsport running the Toyota 86 when the four round series gets underway this coming weekend at Hampton Downs. It’s a step away from his regular ride.
“In 2022 my father and I built a BMW E46 to compete in the BMW Series and in my rookie year we were consistent enough to get a top ten overall in the championship,” he said. “We’ve got better and better and this past season has been good as we have been able to get some great results.
“Racing in the winter in the Toyota 86 Trophy Series will allow me to continue that momentum as well as continuing to learn and develop my driving. I’m going to give it a good go and as always, we’ll be racing out there as a family and having fun.
“I know the tracks so I am hoping we will be up to speed quickly and adapt to the Bridgestone tyre which I will be new to. Hopefully we’ll be able to get some good results, some podiums and may be even a race win or two and figure in the battle for the title. But it will also be great preparation for next summer too.”
Riley’s off-track preparation has been focussed on getting to know and understand how the car works, so he can focus on getting up to race winning speed quickly. And he’s been testing ahead of the series too.
“Yes, I have been out in the shed looking at how it all goes so when I’m out on track i know what the car needs to do along with trying to get as many laps as I possibly can.”
He’s been hard at work on the commercial side of things too and has put together an impressive list of sponsors for his winter racing. When he takes to the track on Saturday, he’ll be carrying the support of Dayle ITM, Gap and Fill, Collins Automotive, PJ’s Panel and Paint, Thomson’s ITM, Laser Electrical, Top Town Wheel and Tyre, NAPA, Dr Plumber, SD European, Shaws Wire Ropes, Arrow Line Marking, MRX and Allen’s United Drainage and Earthworks!
Riley’s winter racing season begins at Hampton Downs over the weekend of May 16th and 17th before moving further south to Taupo Motorsport Park on June 20 and 21. Manfeild is the destination for the third round two weeks later on July 4th and 5th before the series concludes at the same circuit on August 1 and 2.
2026 Toyota 86 Trophy Series
Round 1: 16 and 17 May at Hampton Downs (NZIGP Season Finale)
Round 2: 20 and 21 June at Taupo Motorsport Park (Taupo Car Club Winter Series)
Round 3: 4 and 5 July at Manfeild - Circuit Chris Amon (Feilding Auto Electrical Winter Series)
Round 4: 1 and 2 August at Manfeild - Circuit Chris Amon (Feilding Auto Electrical Winter Series)
