Collins boosted by Dunlop Destiny program
Youngster Tyler Collins hopes his recent experience with the Dunlop Destiny program can take his growing career to the next step.
Having been a frontrunner in Hyundai Excels across recent years, Collins was selected from a five-driver camp at Norwell and received a drive in the Toyota 86 Scholarship Series finale with 99 Motorsport.
At the evaluation day, Collins, Ashton Cattach, Bradley James, Ethan Grigg-Gault and Rio Campbell received insights from Supercars stars Broc Feeney, Brodie Kostecki, Declan Fraser and Nash Morris.
Collins, 20, emerged as the winner and believes the experience has vastly improved him as a driver.
“It was a huge opportunity for me,” he told Auto Action.
“It has given me a leg up to further progress my career. Without it I might have been driving around in Excels for a few more years to come.
“It has given me a better chance (of progressing) than being by myself, which I am very grateful for.
The Dunlop Destiny Program Toyota Tyler Collins got to race at The Bend.
“That would not have been possible without the hard work of Dunlop, 99 Motorsport and CERA the Excel guys initiating the whole program.
“They selected the five they thought were best fit and I was lucky enough to be one of them.
“It was cool to have Broc Feeney and Brodie Kostecki giving us tips, which was awesome.
“The value from that day itself, working with the guys from Norwell made it worthwhile itself.
“All five of us really got something out of it.”
The prize was racing the yellow Dunlop-backed #999 Toyota 86 run by Marcus LaDelle’s 99 Motorsport.
In his first drive of the car against young, but seasoned regulars in the Scholarship Series finale, Collins battled hard at The Bend.
He made life hard for himself by “messing up my lap” and qualifying 24th.
However, Collins “put his Excel racing hard on” and rose up to 12th.
In the second sprint he was challenging the top five, but made a mistake on the final lap and dropped back to 12th.
However, he finished the weekend well by rising up to ninth in the final race.
Collins is hopeful the experience can help him secure a Toyota seat in 2026.
“Having top five pace actually gave me quite a lot of encouragement if I were to do the series again next year or in the future,” he said.
“There are a lot of different things in motion at the moment, but for sure the results we had turned some heads and started some conversations.
“The goal is Supercars whatever, but most of us just have the dream of being a paid racing driver and I am the same.
“It is more the steps you have to take to get there and the Scholarship Series is the next logical step.
“We are talking to a few people to make some stuff happen.”
Having won the AASA national crown in 2023 and starting in Excels in 2022, Collins believes the ultra-tight one-make series that is held all over the country is the perfect platform for drivers to start their racing careers following karts.
“Honestly, I would not have wanted to start my racing career anywhere else,” he said.
Tyler Collins racing his Excel at the recent nationals at Phillip Island.
“The race craft you learn from Excels especially, is second to none.
“You have guys like Jaylyn Robotham, who have come back to keep it fresh and that showed in the 86 race we had here.
“I certainly think it is cheaper than the 86 series. It is easier to replace the old 98 or 99 Excel than the modern 86s.
“The community is awesome so it is just a great category.”
Collins himself is a motorsport-loving youngster, also working in media for the Touring Car Masters.
Taking a wider scope at the Australian motorsport landscape, he hopes to see more scholarships offered to rising talents around the country.
“I hope this program can continue,” he said.
“It is something that Australian motorsport has lacked in a scholarship that helps drivers through the categories.
“Other categories take a note out of the book because it is something New Zealand does really well with Tony Quinn.
“It is something Australia lacks and we need more of.
“Obviously, motorsport is not a poor person’s game.”
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