A new challenge awaits local motor racing driver Josh Anderson as he looks to take his talents to another level.
After successfully competing in the Aussie Racing Cars Series for a number of years – winning the championship back in 2022 – Anderson will now switch gears and race in the Toyota Gazoo Racing GR86 Cup from July.
The 24-year-old is one of the rising stars on the track and says racing Toyota Gazoo will put him one step closer to his dream of V8 Supercars one day.
“It’s moving up a level, it’s a really competitive series and a great pathway to Supercars,” he told the Weekender.
“It allows me to do something that’s a little bit different and it’s a step up at the same time.”
Over the next few months, Anderson will continue to race Aussie Racing Cars as well as get himself acquainted with his new, more powerful wheels.
“The Toyota Gazoo cars are quite different to drive obviously being a production car versus being a go-kart with a body, essentially,” he said.
“Their full-sized cars, they drive quite differently and have a very different tyre. The only similarities are the four wheels and engine, so they are quite different to drive.”
The Toyota Gazoo Racing GR86 Cup will kick off at the Townsville 500 in early July and will be shown on television in the lead up to Supercars events. Anderson, who was obsessed with playing car racing games on his mum’s computer as a kid, is now putting all his energy into making sure his rise to Toyota Gazoo goes smoothly.
“We’ve booked a few test days, so I can learn how to drive the car and pick up my skills and adjust my driving style to suit the new car,” Anderson said.
“It’s hard to say how I’m going to go, my goal is to be at the front, but it’s a really competitive series.
“I definitely have a bit to learn and adjust to in my testing before the series starts, but I’m confident I’ll figure it out and get some good results.”
Helping Anderson on his journey to the top is none other than the Sieders Racing Team, who have been in the motor racing game for decades.
“I can’t thank Sieders Racing enough for the opportunity,” Anderson said.
“It all came together very late in the piece, and without Luke [Sieders] it most certainly wouldn’t have happened.
“I can’t wait to kick things off in Townsville.”
Nathan Taylor is the Weekender’s Deputy Editor and Senior Sports Writer. He also compiles the weekly Chatter on the Box TV column. Nathan is an award-winning journalist, who has worked at the Weekender for a decade.
