The winner of the upcoming Toyota 86 Championship in New Zealand will earn a full-season drive in the following Toyota 86 Racing Series in Australia.

Also part of the expanded prize pool, the top rookie will be offered a berth as an invited driver in the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 round.

Category Manager Geoff Short believes that the prizes are a prime opportunity to drive in the shop window of Virgin Australia Supercars Championship rounds.

“It’s a massive opportunity for up and coming drivers in the New Zealand series to put their names out there as potentially the next van Gisbergen, McLaughlin or Coulthard,” said Short.

“Given the high quality of the drivers already lined up for next season, it’s a given that the drivers who secure those prizes will be stand-out racers.

“Overall it’s the best ever prize pool for the Toyota 86 Championship in New Zealand and completely reflects the Toyota Racing philosophy of finding the stars of tomorrow and making a young racing driver’s dream a reality.

“There’s a clear opportunity for two racers this season to carve out names for themselves at the most significant motorsport events in Australasia and it’s going to be fascinating to see who can reach out and make the most of the opportunity.”

The 2018/19 Toyota 86 Championship will be contested over six rounds starting with a support role at the ITM Auckland SuperSprint on November 2-4 and ending at Hampton Downs on March 9-10.

Australia’s Toyota 86 series, led by Tim Brook, continues at Bathurst on October 4-7.