Super2 debutant to lean on F1 driver coach

Kai Allen will prepare for his maiden Super2 campaign with a week in Europe alongside a leading driver coach.

Allen, who will drive one of Eggleston Motorsport’s four Triple Eight-built ZB Commodores in 2023, will link up with Rob Wilson.

Experienced driving coach Wilson has worked with several former and current Formula 1 drivers.

Notably, Wilson has tutored the likes of Valtteri Bottas, Kimi Raikkonen, Juan Pablo Montoya, David Coulthard and Valentino Rossi.

Late last year, Cam Waters and Jake Kostecki also spent time with Wilson in the UK.

Wilson’s in-demand methods will now be tested on Allen, who finished second in the 2022 Super3 season.

Allen’s week-long trip prior to the Thrifty Newcastle 500 will also include a trip to Silverstone to test a Radical SR10.

Allen impressed in Super3 last year

The opportunity was born out of Allen’s ties with Sebastian Lip, who is facilitating the Wilson mentorship.

Allen drove Lip’s Radical SR10 at Mount Panorama in the Australian Prototype Series last November.

The teenager was the outright winner on debut, and later fought for Super3 honours in Adelaide.

Earlier in the year, Allen also tested a Shell V-Power Racing Team Mustang.

"I am so unbelievably lucky to be able to get this opportunity and I look forward to learning as much as I can from Rob Wilson," Allen said.

"For Seb to be prepared to organise and help me in my career is amazing and I intend to make the most of it.”

Allen has improved rapidly in Supercars machinery since joining the Eggleston team.

He was engineered by racer Kurt Kostecki last year, and scored a record 11 of 12 poles last season.

Allen was engineered by Kurt Kostecki last year

Only a final-race crash would prevent Allen from beating Brad Vaughan to the Super3 title.

Allen and Vaughan’s rivalry will continue into Super2, with the latter signing with Tickford Racing.

“That was a real learning curve for me,” the 17-year-old said of his Adelaide heartbreak.

“I would have loved to win the championship but as a driver we are always so close to the edge and unfortunately I just stepped over it.

"I have definitely taken a lot away from that and I’m looking forward to this year.”

Allen joins Cameron Crick, Jordyn Sinni and Cooper Murray in Eggleston’s four-car Super2 line-up.

The 2023 Supercars and Super2 seasons will commence in Newcastle on March 10-12.

Tickets are on sale on Supercars.com and Ticketek.com.