WAU enter TGRA 86 campaign with Hillyer

WAU has confirmed young Victorian and national Formula Ford talent Matt Hillyer as pilot for its maiden TGRA Toyota 86 campaign.

Hillyer has been involved in the Walkinshaw Andretti United Foundation Academy – a multifaceted breeding ground for young motorsport talent in all fields – with the young Vic spending time as a first year apprentice as a Mechanic in Sub-assembly.

But Hillyer has also moved into the Australian Formula Ford Series this season, after last year taking out the Victorian state title, and has opened his season with a two-win weekend at Morgan Park to sit atop the standings, racing for Sonic Motor Racing. 

Sonic Racing’s Hillyer took out Round 1 of the AFFS at Morgan Park

“I am really excited to be joining Walkinshaw Andretti United in the Toyota Gazoo Racing Australia 86 Series,” Hillyer said. 

“To be a part of their debut entrance in the series is pretty cool, I’m really looking forward to seeing what we can do together this year on track.

“To be working here for the last 18-months has been amazing to experience to understand how the team operates. We know each other well, so we can really get to work from the start and see what we can achieve in the Scholarship Series first up.”

Run by Nick Bates, and staffed by WAU, Hillyer and the team will hit the track the TGRA 86 Scholarship Series at the NSW State Championship on April 14-16.  

From there, WAU will aim to qualify for the TGRA 86 Series through finishing inside the top 20 in the Scholarship Series over the first three rounds, with the obvious racing talent of Hillyer making that a fair chance. 

WAU team principal, Bruce Stewart, spoke about Hillyer, and the pathway system that has seen the young driver through its ranks.

“Matt (Hillyer) is an extremely talented driver who we see a bright future with on track, but has been a real asset to us working with the team, so we are all really excited to see him on track this year,” Stewart said.

“The WAU Foundation Academy aims to aid the progression of young talent in motorsport in Australia, and that is everything from drivers to mechanics, engineers, and commercial staff. 

“A pathway to bring these people to the elite  level is essential to the future of our sport, and this also gives us the opportunity to give hands-on race experience to a number of younger staff across all areas of a race team, which is invaluable going forward.” 

The Toyota 86 season officially kicks off at the Townsville 500 on July 7-9 for its 15 race, five round season.

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