Grant Aitken will join the grid for the inaugural season of the Rodin Cars Super GT Series, in a Porsche 718 Cayman GT4.
Aitken took a sabbatical from motorsport but found it difficult to stay away, returning for his 55th season in the sport.
The seasoned driver made his racing return competing in the South Island Endurance Series in recent months.
“I took a year or so off, but honestly, inside that car is my happy place,” Aitken said.
“The feeling you get when you tighten up the belts, you’re on the grid and ready to go, you can’t top it.”
Aitken has been an advocate of the global GT4 platform.
“I just love the GT4 class and the concept of the cars.
“I’d quietly been chatting to Geoff Short from Speedworks about creating a class where they could all race together. I’m so pleased that it has come to fruition.”
“The GT4 cars are so easy to run. You can literally just take it off the trailer, roll it into the garage and all you have to do over the weekend is the tyres. What’s more, they are relatively easy to drive, which I think gives you a bit more enjoyment when competing.”
Aitken has raced a number of Porsche GT4 cars over the last few years.
“The new car has just arrived in the country, I’m excited to collect it and get it out on track down at Highlands in January. The old car was really good, this is just a refinement and improvement from Porsche.”
The new series expects to see at least 15 GT4 cars from five manufacturers competing.
The Super GT Series will hold four rounds over three months starting January 15, at Highlands in Cromwell.
This will be followed by the second round at the Mike Pero Motorsport Park on January 22-23, before heading to Hampton Downs on February 12-13. The final round will be in Taupo on March 26-27.
Main image: Euan Cameron