Next major talent for GR86
Sixteen-year-old Caleb Byers from Christchurch is one of the country’s rising motorsport prospects, launching his season in the inaugural Bridgestone GR86 Championship at Taupō later this November.
Caleb, (pictured above) will run with James Marshall Motorsport in the new championship, which will feature more than 20 of the country’s top drivers and will race in both the North and South Islands during summer. Another of New Zealand’s next wave of rising stars, Caleb aims to follow in the footsteps of Shane Van Gisbergen, Scott McLaughlin and more recently Matthew Payne and Ryan Wood into Supercars.
He began racing at the age of 12, although did not follow the conventional route through karting, instead opting for the budget 2K Cup racing series where he secured several pole positions, podiums, and a series win. At 14, he moved in to Formula Ford to develop his car control and set-up skills as well as sharpen his racing skills in what has been for decades one of motorsport’s best categories for driver development.
The young speedster excelled again in Formula Ford, qualifying on the front row and finishing on the podium on multiple occasions. He also impressed in a one-off start in the Toyota 86 Championship last season at Hampton Downs. The Bridgestone GR86 Championship will see his return to ‘tin tops’ and that, above all, remains his motorsport passion as he sets his sights on a Supercars career.
“My passion has been tin tops from an early age,” he explains. “I have learnt a lot in Formula Ford and in the 2K Cup, but the Bridgestone GR86 Championship will be the ultimate level playing field. The new car brings an opportunity for all drivers and teams so it’s going to be a great way to measure my racing skills,” he says. “All the drivers will need to adapt and change their driving styles to match the new car and tyre. The teams will also have to learn the new cars quickly allowing the drivers to be competitive. I think the most important thing will be to consistently finish the races.”
2024-2025 BRIDGESTONE GR86 CHAMPIONSHIP
Round 01: 22-24 November 2024, Taupō International Motorsport Park
Round 02: 17-19 January 2025, Hampton Downs Motorsport Park (International Layout)
Round 03: 31 Jan – 2 February 2025, Teretonga Park, Invercargill
Round 04: 7 – 9 February 2025, Highlands Motorsport Park, 69th New Zealand Grand Prix
Round 05: 21-23 March 2025, Hampton Downs Motorsport Park (National Layout)
Round 06: 11-13 April 2025, Taupō International Motorsport Park – Supercars
