Hugo Allan has been confirmed as the latest driver to join The Heart of Racing (THoR) team for the upcoming Best Bars Toyota 86 championship.
Allan made his series debut in the final round of last year’s series at Bruce McLaren Motorsport Park.
Despite being his championship debut, Allan finished the weekend with two seventh-place finishes and an 11th in the weekend’s three races.
“I’m proud to be a part of The Heart of Racing team and I’m very focussed on preparing for the start of the season,” he said.
“Even though it has been delayed because of Covid-19 restrictions, you can tell all of the drivers are itching to get out there and go racing.
“It’s going to be a great championship and I know I’ll be up against the best up and coming drivers and several established champions.
“Joining THoR gives me as a rookie a fantastic opportunity to develop a motorsport career with a future involving a potential international pathway with the team. There’s a long way to go but I’m aiming high.”
With travel restrictions limiting the amount of track time he has been able to get, Allen has been preparing for the season by spending time on a racing simulator, something not unfamiliar to him.
“I made my Taupo debut with little or no track time previously and my sim experience was very useful in helping me adapt to real world racing quickly, identifying lines, getting used to track layouts and that is where I’ve been putting in the time over the past few weeks. I’m eager to put that practice to the test,” Allan said.
Allan will join THoR alongside Chelsea Herbert and Rianna O’Meara Hunt in a three-car team run by International Motorsport.
The championship will get underway at Pukekohe Park Raceway November 3-5, before heading to the South Island after the Christmas break.