GT ace Leitch scores Team Kiwi Racing drive

New Zealander Brendon Leitch has been named as Team Kiwi Racing's driver for the upcoming DUNLOP Super Series round at October's Repco Bathurst 1000.

Leitch will make his competitive Super2 debut at Mount Panorama for the returning team, which evaluated three drivers in a Holden ZB Commodore last week.

30-year-old Leitch got the nod for the drive, and will add a new element to the Super2 field come October. He got the nod over 2018 Super2 champion Chris Pither and veteran Brent Collins.

Leitch's Holden will carry the Kiwi team’s iconic black and white livery, with support from Team Kiwi Racing and well-known New Zealand businesses.

Last week's Winton test was Leitch's first shot in Gen2-specification machinery, following a brief steer of a Matt Stone Racing Gen3 Camaro last February in Sydney.

A return to Mount Panorama is part of a broader, long-term plan for Team Kiwi Racing, with owner David John eyeing a return to Supercars in 2027 with a Kiwi team by way of a wildcard.

John was excited to hand Leitch his shot, saying: “I am excited to announce that Brendon Leitch will proudly fly the flag for Team Kiwi Racing and New Zealand at Mount Panorama this year.

"In its 26-year history, Team Kiwi Racing has always been about providing New Zealand drivers with opportunities in Australia to show what they’re made of.

“Team Kiwi Racing has always prided itself on picking drivers based on talent and with the right attitude, not whether they can bring money to the table. This is no different.

"For Brendon, all we’re asking from him is to represent the brand to the best of his ability, enjoy the experience and make us all proud on the biggest stage in Australian motorsport.”

Leitch has carved out one of the most impressive globe-trotting GT careers from this part of the world in recent years. Mount Panorama is also a place Leitch enjoys — in fact, he claimed pole position for GT World Challenge Australia in his first very competitive attempt at the circuit back in 2024.

Leitch, the 2023 Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europe champion, is currently fighting for this year's GTWCA title with Sergio Pires and Tigani Motorsport.

“I’m really excited and proud to be joining Team Kiwi Racing,” the Invercargill-born driver said.

“I have to thank the people who put my name forward and obviously David John for having the faith in my ability and giving me this chance to realise a dream of mine to race a Supercar at Bathurst, Mount Panorama, all while representing Team Kiwi Racing in front of tens of thousands of people.

“The opportunity to race at Mount Panorama is not lost on me. These opportunities don’t come around often without strings attached.

“It’s hard to get these drives when most people think of you as being a GT guy, but I think the breadth of cars that I’ve driven shows that I’m versatile and more than capable.

“It will be cool to add my name to the list of those to have driven for Team Kiwi Racing. Guys like Shane van Gisbergen, Paul Radisich, Craig Baird, Fabian Coulthard, Chris Pither and of course Jason Richards.

“Growing up, I remember watching Radisich and Bairdo at Bathurst and Pukekohe. When Shane drove for the team in 2007 was when I was thinking about getting out of karts and into cars.

“I’ve always proudly worn the New Zealand flag, so to be driving at Bathurst for a team that is so synonymous with New Zealand motorsport and New Zealand drivers is going to be very cool.”

Team Kiwi Racing and Leitch will test at Winton Motor Raceway in the weeks leading up to Bathurst.