‘Veteran' Zeltwanger Aiming For Winter Success Aboard Toyota 86
With fifteen years of experience in the sport at the age of just 23, Massey racer Lee Zeltwanger has plenty of experience to take into a winter campaign in the Toyota 86 Trophy Series.
An all-round sports fanatic who also plays seven-a-side and eleven-a-side soccer, Lee is a graduate in sports exercise, nutrition and management and likes working on the cars he races as well as driving them.
He's had plenty of success in those 15 years on the motorsport scene too, as he explained.
'I have been in motorsport for 15 years, and started when I was seven years old in karts. In 2018 I moved away from karts and into car racing starting in the BMW Race Driver Series in the E30 class.
'I enjoyed racing in that for three years and then moved into the BMW E46 class for another three seasons.
Some highlights were definitely winning the North Island Championship in 2014 in the Junior restricted class and winning the Kapellen Trophy in Rotax mini in Switzerland in 2012. I won City of Sails, was second at the CIK trophy of NZ, was Auckland club champion and won races in both the BMW E30 and E46 classes.
'Now, though, I have my eyes set on the Toyota 86 Trophy Series.'
All-rounder Zeltwanger will run his own Toyota 86 in the four round series, which begins this weekend at Hampton Downs and he is determined to do well against high quality opposition.
'My objective is of course to try win the series but also be consistent and finish every race to maximise points,' he added. 'Another objective is winning the scholarship that is available to the winner to do a season in the new Toyota 86 cars in the Bridgestone GR86 Championship. That would be amazing.'
Lee will contest the series, which also races at Manfeild and at Taupo International Motorsport Park twice, with the help of Timberworld East Tamaki, Euro West Limited, Solimara NZ Ltd, SKUNKWORKS and the Automoves Racing Team.
2025 Toyota 86 Trophy Series
Rd1 9-10 May 2025 Hampton Downs – NZIGP Finale
Rd2 21-22 June 2025 Taupo Int. Motorsport Park – Taupo Winter Series
Rd3 5-6 July 2025 Manfeild – Circuit Chris Amon – Manfeild Winter Series
Rd4 26-27 July 2025 Taupo Int. Motorsport Park – Taupo Winter Series
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