Latest news with #ToyotaTR86TrophySeries
Otago Daily Times
03-07-2025
- Automotive
- Otago Daily Times
Positive weekend for Sprague
A fourth generation Timaru racing driver is continuing to push the limits in search of national glory. Corban Sprague, 18, is competing in the Toyota TR86 Trophy Series after securing a seat in the CareVets car via a scholarship. After a successful first round outing in May, he returned to the track late last month for round two in Taupō. Sprague immediately showed off his skills picking up P1, P3 and P2 in the three practice sessions ahead of qualifying. After qualifying fifth, he battled away to pick up fourth place in both main races and now also sits fourth in the overall series standings with two rounds to go. Sprague said it was another positive weekend. "It wasn't the overall result I had hoped for but I think we showed some great signs heading into the next couple of rounds. There were some great lessons learnt, obviously I want to be winning but it's still great learning. "Practice went really well, we rolled out off the trailer and the car was really fast. "In qualifying, we all go out on a new set of tyres and I just didn't maximise that new tyre as well as everyone else which sort of cost me for the races. "We had really good speed in the races, being one of the fastest, but with the cars being identical, if you don't qualify well it makes it really hard to pass. I put myself in that bad place, I've learned from it and I'll make sure I'm not doing it again." He said it was his first time racing on the big track at the Taupō International Motorsport Park. "I've driven around the smaller track, but that was my first time on the big track, I really enjoyed it. "It's quite a big, long track compared to what I'm used to. "It flowed really well and it's got quite a bit of undulation, so I really enjoyed it in the Toyota 86." After previously racing in the Mazda Pro 8 New Zealand series, the Toyota car was still taking a little bit to adjust to, he said. "It's taken a bit more than I would have liked to be honest. It's very different to the Mazda, so I'm having to try and get all my bad habits I learnt in it out and concentrate on the good things in the 86. "I'm starting to, and more mileage helps me get closer to where I like to be in it. "There's still a couple of thing I need to improve on, but it's all looking promising." Sprague will turn his attention to Manfeild next weekend for round three and said it was a track he was very much looking forward to racing on. "I've driven around there once but I've never raced it. I had a good first impression of the track. "It's quite an old school track, like Levels raceway, which I'm used to. It's a real flowy, high-commitment track which I'm really looking forward to. "The goal is always to battle out for wins and podiums, so I've just got to execute in qualifying and the other areas and hopefully we'll be able to do that." The action at Manfeild will take place on July 5-6 before a return to Taupō for the final round on July 26-27.
Otago Daily Times
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- Otago Daily Times
4th Generation driver displays skill up north
A fourth-generation Timaru racing driver is continuing to add to his family's motorsport legacy. At 18 years old, Corban Sprague is following in the wheel tracks of his great-grandfather Ernie, grandfather Wayne and dad Peter after completing his first race of the Toyota TR86 Trophy Series. To compete in the series Sprague outperformed 40 applicants and won a hotly-contested eight-man shootout last month to secure himself a scholarship and a seat in the CareVets TR86 car. The series opener took place on May 9-10 at Hampton Downs and Sprague quickly demonstrated his ability. He finished fourth in qualifying, followed by a third place finish in race one which was then promoted to a second due to a jump start up front and an unfortunate fifth place in the final race after his car was used as a "brake marker" by a fellow driver leading to him spinning out. Sprague said that racing was just in his blood. "I've grown up around it since I was a toddler, so it was always going to be a matter of when I start, not if. "It's pretty special to carry the family name in motorsport and there's not many people that can say they are a fourth-generation racer in New Zealand. It's pretty cool." He said there was a bit of pressure from his family name but it did not really bother him. "I'm a pretty relaxed person to be fair and I just get on with the job that's at hand." Before receiving the scholarship for the Toyota series, Sprague had made a name for himself racing in the Mazda Pro 8 New Zealand series. He said heading into the first round of the Toyota series, it was the least prepared he had been for a race meeting. "The scholarship was really late in the piece, which didn't leave us any time to get up there and do some testing in the car. "My first proper go in the car was the Friday of the meeting and it was raining." He said his first dry run in the car was Saturday's qualifier. "I did all my preparation outside the car with the fitness side but on the driving side I was a little less prepared than I would have liked but it is what it is. "I just kept chipping along and got on with it." It was a positive start to the series, he said. "I think going forward I learned a lot over the weekend. "I've got a great crew coaching and mentoring me through it and I'm happy with how I went. "I enjoyed it, I'll just keep working behind the scenes and we'll do the best we can going into Taupo in five weeks." He said he did go into it with high expectations, but he felt getting a podium in his first race was pretty good. "I just thought if I could be in the top three, top five I'd be happy and we did that. "It's all time and mileage, I think we're looking pretty good." The goal was to win the series, he said. "There's quite a big prize up for grabs, which is a potential opportunity to jump up to the inaugural GR86 championship next season. "Whoever wins the series will have the same scholarship deal that I've got for this series getting into the GR86. "You can't win it in the first round, so I've just got to keep chipping away and putting my best foot forward and hopefully we'll come out with a good result." He said his ultimate goal was to get over to Australia and make it into the V8 Supercars competition. "But at present time I'm just going to keep doing th best I can in the series and car that I'm racing and see where I end up." Sprague said he was very appreciative of everyone who had helped him get to this point. "I'm just very grateful for this opportunity and I can't, can't thank everyone enough that's helped me get to this point. "It doesn't happen without the help of those people." The four round series continues with round two at Taupo International Motorsport Park on June 21-22, followed by a trip to Manfeild on July 5-6 and a return to Taupo for the final round on July 26-27.
