Nieko Scoles is two wins into a season that could end with him holding two championship trophies.
The 16-year-old Invercargill driver claimed his second Toyota 86 Trophy Series race victory of the season at Manfeild last weekend, keeping himself firmly in contention for both the Toyota 86 Trophy Series Championship and the overall Winter Series title. He sits second in each — 12 points behind the Trophy Series leader, 20 adrift in the Winter Series — with one round to go. The mathematics are tight, but they remain very much in his favour.
Scoles started racing at 13 in a Toyota 86, working through the Highlands Sprint Series and South Island Endurance Series before stepping into the GR86 category, where identical cars strip away any equipment advantage and leave only driver skill. His New Zealand GR86 Championship debut came earlier this year at Highlands Motorsport Park during the Grand Prix meeting. Qualifying was tough, but his race pace put him among the front runners.
That experience showed when the Trophy Series got underway across the North Island. Scoles won the opening round, then took his first race victory in wet conditions at Taupō in round two — a result that demonstrated an ability to perform when conditions demand more from a driver. Manfeild was win number two.
Three podiums from the results that matter most, with one round still to run. The championship is genuinely his to lose.
"It's a privilege to represent Southland around New Zealand. I'm incredibly grateful to my family, my team, my sponsors and everyone who has supported me along the way. I wouldn't be able to do this without them," Scoles said.
Beyond this season, his targets are clear: win the New Zealand GR86 Championship, then head across the Tasman with ambitions of competing in the Porsche Carrera Cup or Super2 Series — and ultimately the Repco Supercars Championship.