Recent Old Boy Josh Donohue *Class of 2020* has been busy this summer racing a Toyota FT-40 in the Formula Open NZ series. A car that he has been sponsored to drive by Vodafone Automotive and Thomsen Automotive Petone.
This follows on from last season when Josh won a scholarship to race a BMW E30 in the BMW Race Driver Series. Josh was Rookie of the year in the BMW, the first person outside the Auckland Region to win this, as well as the youngest.
The step up into the FT-40 has been steep. It’s a real wings and slicks race car that gets up to some serious speeds. But a credit to Josh he’s adapted quickly and is leading the series to date, four rounds completed with three to go. Josh is looking to step up into the main Toyota Racing Series next summer and is working on securing sponsorship for this. As well as the kudos from winning such scholarships, the prize money that comes with them is essential in not only helping to fund the next racing opportunity, but also in providing essentials such as new Tyres and Race suits.
What a long and dedicated path started all those years ago, when Josh at age 6, began racing Go-Carts. At just 14 years of age he purchased a Mitsubishi Mirage, a car he still drives today. At the time of writing, Josh had just this past weekend competed and won his class, in the Mt Victoria Hill Climb in this very vehicle. All this on top of his day job, working full-time as an Apprentice Electrician!
You can keep up to date with Josh’s racing on facebook at D2 Motorsport – Brothers Racing.