Team Kiwi Racing will make a return to Australian race tracks this year, competing in the Porsche City Index Carrera Cup.
The TKR squad, who competed in Australian V8 Supercars from 2000 to 2010 in different forms, will campaign 16-year-old New Zealander Andre Heimgartner in the ex-Simon Middleton Porsche.
The team is planning to expand to become a two-car squad after the opening round at the Clipsal 500. Heimgartner is being slated to drive the new car once it becomes available.
The car will be resplendent in TKR’s traditional black and white livery and will be prepared by Team Kiwi Racing’s Todd Bickerton and Ian McNabb.
The team will be assisted in its return year by Craig Baird, who has agreed to mentor young Heimgartner in his Carrera Cup debut.
Team owner David John expects Heimgartner to impress in his Porsche debut.
“It will be a matter of him getting to know the tracks, knowing what’s out there, getting comfortable in the car,” John told Speedcafe.com
“He is a good young driver. He wasn’t intimidated by any of the stars in V8 SuperTourers so we have a good level of expectation for him.”
After disappearing from the Australian scene, TKR has competed in domestic NZ competition for the past two seasons.
Heimgartner will add the Carrera Cup duties to his increasing list of driving duties, which also includes his drive in New Zealand V8 SuperTourers.
The opening round of Carrera Cup supports the Clipsal 500, Adelaide, this weekend.
