Simon Evans is the latest driver to join New Zealand's only V8 Supercar team, Super Black Racing, as he steps up to the V8 Supercars Dunlop Series in Australia this year behind the wheel of another Ford Falcon.
Evans, who has enjoyed considerable success in New Zealand's top tier V8 SuperTourer series over the past year, says he's looking forward to the challenge with support from a New Zealand team.
"This is a great opportunity for me. Following my recent racing results in New Zealand, the Dunlop Series is definitely the next step for me. So while it's going to be a challenge, I'm really looking forward to it," Evans said.
"Representing Super Black Racing as the only New Zealand team in the V8 Supercars at the moment just makes it even more exciting and it's great to have their support as it can be really hard for drivers to break out of New Zealand."
Super Black Racing team owner Tony Lentino added that when the opportunity came up, the team just had to help Evans in his international quest.
"The team [Super Black Racing] was started to help New Zealand drivers break into different levels of motorsport so when this became a possibility, we knew we had to make it happen. It's simply what we're all about," Lentino said.
Aside from competing in karts in Australia, it will be Evans' first time racing on Australian tarmac so he also has the added challenge of learning every single track during the allocated practice sessions.
"Every track is new to me this year and with only two practice sessions at each event, it's going to be difficult," Evans said.
"But I have a fantastic team of people behind me, including my family, so I'm still confident of getting some good results."
The V8 Supercars Dunlop Series is contested over seven rounds throughout Australia with Evans piloting a Ford Falcon prepared by MW Motorsport who previously brought Chaz Mostert to victory in the step-up series.
Evans is at Winton today with Super Black Racing, as the team holds a rookie (test) day for Andre Heimgartner ahead of theClipsal 500 in Adelaide on 26 February, whereboth the V8 Supercars Championship, and the V8 Supercars Dunlop Series kick off for the season.