Young drivers’ stepping stone

The CareVets Scholarship – a programme that boosted the careers of drivers such as Callum Hedge and Ryan Yardley – is back for the inaugural 2025 Toyota 86 Trophy Series.

This year’s scholarship involves a shootout on March 31 at Hampton Downs, which will include an assessment of abilities on and off the track.

The final driver selected at the end of the day will win the use of a TR86 for the four rounds of the series, and an experienced mechanic and engineer to make race weekends as productive as possible.

The driver will only be responsible for entry, running and any repair costs.

Applications for the 2025 CareVets Scholarship close on March 21. Prospective drivers must provide a photo and a current CV of their motorsport career to date.

Participants must hold a New Zealand passport and be aged 25 or younger. Entry is limited to those who have competed only at grassroots in categories such as karting, stock cars, speedway, club rallies and accredited MSNZ series, which include the Mazda, BMW, Formula Ford and Formula First categories. 

Drivers must also hold a relevant motorsport licence reflecting their participation in grassroots motorsport or be of the age to apply for the relevant motorsport licence.

A judging panel will select the top eight invited to attend the scholarship shootout day, for which there is a $500 entry fee.

The series has been designed to provide a sustainable professional and competitive environment for the older TR86 model, and an entry-level series during the winter for drivers and teams perhaps looking to progress to the GR86 or beyond.

Hampton Downs hosts the first round in May. The drivers then race in Taupo in June, before heading to Manfeild Circuit Amon for the third round in early July before going back to Taupo in late July.