Hugo Allan completes Toyota 86 line up for THoR

Hugo Allan has today been named as the third driver for The Heart of Racing (THoR) in the forthcoming Toyota 86 Championship.

The 17 year old Takapuna Grammar racer impressed on his Toyota 86 debut at last season’s final round at the Bruce McLaren Motorsport Park, Taupo.  Having caught the eye of THoR, he was able to quickly secure a drive in the forthcoming championship.

Hugo’s speed on debut was amongst the best of the field in his Taupo debut and he is determined to continue where he left off and make his mark on what will be the biggest grid ever for the championship.

“I’m proud to be a part of The Heart of Racing team and I’m very focussed on preparing for the start of the season,” he said.

“Even though it has been delayed because of Covid-19 restrictions, you can tell all of the drivers are itching to get out there and go racing. It’s going to be a great championship and I know I’ll be up against the best up and coming drivers and several established champions.”

More than 20 cars will line up for the first round and Hugo hopes it will be the start of a mutually successful and longer term relationship with The Heart of Racing operation.

“Joining THoR gives me as a rookie a fantastic opportunity to develop a motorsport career with a future involving a potential international pathway with the team. There’s a long way to go but I’m aiming high.”

Hugo – who learned to drive in his father’s Toyota Hilux around the paddocks at the family home – is best known to the NZ racing community through his online racing efforts. He has been racking up the mileage on the sim as travel restrictions have prevented all drivers from getting time in their cars ahead of the start of the season. For Hugo, it’s a road he’s been down before.

‘I made my Taupo debut with little or no track time previously and my sim experience was very useful in helping me adapt to real world racing quickly, identifying lines, getting used to track layouts and that is where I’ve been putting in the time over the past few weeks. I’m eager to put that practice to the test.”

Hugo will be joined by Chelsea Herbert and Rianna O’Meara Hunt in a three-car THoR team run by International Motorsport.

Once the big debut weekend at Pukekohe is complete, the championship pauses for its Christmas break before heading south to Cromwell for the Highlands weekend on January 14-16 and then moves to Christchurch for the Ruapuna weekend on January 21-23. Three weekends later it’s back to Hampton Downs on February 11-13 for the New Zealand Grand Prix meeting before heading to the Bruce McLaren Motorsport Park, Taupo on March 25-27. The season concludes at Hampton Downs Motorsport Park over the weekend of April 22-24.