Improved Production champion Ryan Denize could be one to watch this coming season as he steps up to a full campaign in
the Toyota 86 Championship.
Ryan Denize could be one to watch this season. Picture Bruce Jenkins
The 17-year-old doesn’t come from a classic karting background, having cut his racing teeth in grassroots club racing
taking part in time trials, dual-car sprints and multi-car sprints over the past few years before stepping up to racing
with the Improved Production Category where he achieved notable success.
In a Toyota 86 racer developed by himself and his father, Ryan took overall honours and decided to step up to the Toyota
86 NZ Championship for the 2023-2024 motorsport season.
The Patetonga racer will be part of the MacKenzie Motorsport squad and went well at the recent two day Hampton Downs
pre-season test. The Hauraki Plains College student has also secured backing from Dayle ITM to help make his first
championship campaign possible.
He’ll be one part of the biggest ever field assembled in Toyota 86 Championship history at 25 cars when the six round
championship takes to the track for the first round later this month at the Taupo International Motorsport Park.
Ryan will be up against most of the country’s rising motorsport stars looking to follow in the footsteps of the likes of
Dixon, McLaughlin and Van Gisbergen and make a name for themselves on the national and international motorsport scene.
“It’s going to be really competitive out there but I believe I can go well and carry on the improvements I have made
over the last few seasons. It’s down to driver skill and consistency in this championship and I’ll be focussing on being
at the top of my game in both of those areas.”
It all begins for Denize and 24 other racers in the Toyota 86 Championship later this month at Taupo before an early
summer holiday ahead of the second round at Manfeild - Circuit Chris Amon in January. The championship then heads to the
South Island for two rounds there, including the 68th New Zealand Grand Prix. The final two rounds will be in the North
Island.2023-2024 Toyota 86 Championship
Round 1 – November 17-19 – Taupo International Motorsport Park
Round 2 – January 26-28 – Manfeild - Circuit Chris Amon
Round 3 – February 9-11 – Euromarque Motorsport Park
Round 4 – February 16-18 – Highlands Motorsport Park – NZ Grand Prix
Round 5 – March 15-17 – Hampton Downs Motorsport Park
Round 6 – TBC