Canberra racer Cameron Hill will return to the Toyota 86 Racing Series in 2017, as he continues to pursue his ambition of becoming a full-time Supercar racer.
It will be the 20-year-old’s second season in the competitive one-make series, which runs as a support category for the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship and will venture to iconic events including the Bathurst 1000.
Hill finished third overall in last year’s Toyota 86 Series, scoring five race wins and two round victories over the course of the season, and says he has some unfinished business heading into 2017.
“Last year was undoubtedly a strong season for us, we started really well,” Hill said.
“To come into a brand-new category with so many cars and so many talented drivers and win the first five races in a row was very satisfying.
“A couple of mid-season incidents cost us our chance to contend for the title, and the objective is to make up for that this season.”
Hill says it’s a pleasure to race in the category, which is factory-backed by Toyota.
“When we looked at our racing plans for 2017, the Toyota 86 Series again presented a very attractive option,” Hill said.
“It is an extremely professionally-run category which has very good exposure thanks to its place on the Supercar support program, and it’s very good value for money.
“Because the cars are identical, the results are determined purely on driver ability so it’s the ideal place for aspiring professional racing drivers to show what they can do.”
The former national Formula Ford Champion welcomes some new supporters for his 2017 campaign, including Southern Star Truck Centre, National Capital Toyota and Anytime Fitness.
“We worked hard over the off-season to attract support, and it’s pleasing to have backing from a core group of local businesses,” Hill said.
Hill is participating in today’s Toyota 86 Racing Series Test and Media Day at Sydney Motorsport Park, ahead of the opening round of the series at Phillip Island on 21-23 April.
