Champ steps up in style
Bridgestone GR86 champion Chris White has completed his three-round prize in the Monochrome GT4 Australia series with two excellent top 10 results.
White’s victory in the GR86 secured him the top prize of a drive for rounds two, three and four of the Aussie series with Garth Walden’s Sydney-based GWR Australia team in its GR Supra GT4 EVO2 alongside Daniel Frougas.
And White, who hails from Christchurch, completed his stint in fine style at Hidden Valley over the last weekend in July.
There were mixed fortunes for the two drivers in qualifying on the Saturday morning with Frougas putting the car 15th on the grid for the first race and White qualifying eighth among the co-drivers for the Sunday race.
In the first race, the duo made up plenty of time throughout the one hour. “Dan did a great job in the opening stint before handing the car over to me,” says White. “I rejoined in 15th and worked my way through to finish the race in eighth overall after a solid stint.
“It was great to make up some positions and continue learning every lap.” That race was won by another former Toyota 86 Championship front-runner, Will Exton.
A solid run in Sunday’s second race saw the duo avoid carnage on the first lap and put in a strong race performance to come home sixth and be the top GR Supra GT4 EVO2.
“We had another strong run on Sunday too,” says White. “It all went to plan and we were able to progress from our grid spot and move up the field to finish top six.
“Overall, the experience of racing in the Monochrome Australia GT4 has been enjoyable and packed with highs and lows, as you would expect. From that point of view, the things I have learned have been invaluable as I move into bigger, faster championships.”
That improvement is also highlighted by Toyota Gazoo Racing NZ’s motorsport manager Nicolas Caillol. “The development we’ve seen in Chris over the course of these three racing weekends – in a GT4 series as tough as any in the world – has been impressive,” he says.
“This is why the prize for winning the Bridgestone GR86 Championship is so significant. It gives young drivers like Chris a chance to step up and into the next level of motorsport – perhaps without the pressure of undertaking a full campaign – and for them to see what areas of their skill sets they need to develop in order to carry on succeeding in the next stage of their motorsport careers.
“With the launch this year from Toyota Racing Europe of the young driver academy, it creates opportunities for those driving EVO2s to be evaluated for future GT3 drives. We think Chris could excel in that arena.”
It isn’t the last involvement in the series by one of New Zealand’s star Toyota 86 performers. Zach Blincoe, as runner-up in the 2025/226 season, will join Frougas and GWR for a one-round cameo at Sydney Motorsport Park over the weekend of September 18-20.
