Meet The Kiwi Driver FUnd Recipients
The Kiwi Driver Fund aims to recognise up-and-coming talent in the New Zealand motorsport scene and help them compete in the Castrol Toyota Racing Series, boosting their careers to the world stage.
Since 2015, the Kiwi Driver Fund has supported several drivers to reach their racing dreams.
Liam Lawson, 2019 and 2020 Kiwi Driver Fund Recipient
Winning both the 2019 Castrol Toyota Racing Series and the New Zealand Grand Prix in his series debut showed that seventeen-year-old Liam Lawson has what it takes. After being named as a 2019 recipient of the Kiwi Driver Fund, Liam stole the show becoming the first Kiwi since 2013 to win the series.
Originally from Pukekohe, Liam started racing at a young age and became the youngest ever Formula Ford (1600c) Championship winner in the world. After spending most of 2019 in Europe as a Red Bull Junior Driver, Liam finished runner-up and Rookie of the Year in the Euroformula Open championship, alongside his first season racing in the FIA Formula 3 European Championships.
Recently announced as a nominee for Toyota Gazoo Racing’s New Zealand People’s Choice award and winner of the Supreme Sportsperson of the Year Award for Counties Manukau, we couldn’t be more proud to continue supporting Liam’s journey to the top.
Chelsea herbert, 2020 Kiwi Driver Fund recipient
Racing since she was 7 years old, Chelsea has proved that women can do great things in male-dominated sports. The 21-year-old Aucklander has been announced as the first of two Kiwi competitors in the 2020 Castrol Toyota Racing Series, and she’s ready to go.
After becoming the first woman in New Zealand to place first during the 2017 New Zealand Touring Car Championships, stepping on top of the podium as the Class 2 winner in Taupō, and winning the 2019 Regional Sportswoman of the Year award - Chelsea now faces her biggest challenge yet with her entry into the single-seater FT-60.
We couldn’t be more thrilled to support Chelsea to compete in the Castrol Toyota Racing Series and to continue to make motorsport history.
Past Kiwi Driver Fund recipients
Liam Lawson (2019)
Marcus Armstrong (2018/2019)
Reid Harker (2018)
Ryan Yardley (2018)
Brendon Leitch (2016/2017/2018)
Taylor Cockerton (2017)
Become one of our drivers
The Kiwi Driver Fund is managed by four trustees who review applications for funding and make annual grants.
To apply for the Kiwi Driver Fund, applicants need to submit a full resume and plan for their future careers. Successful applicants are expected to demonstrate a high level of communication skills, and to have most of their funding and team in place, with the Kiwi Driver Fund supplementing this.
To express your interest in applying for the Kiwi Driver Fund, please click the button below.