Promising Kiwi teenage racer Liam Lawson looks set to be the star attraction in this summer's Toyota Racing Series.
The 16-year-old from Pukekohe is enjoying a successful winter racing in the German Formula 4 Championship, following in the footsteps of fellow Kiwi Marcus Armstrong.
Armstrong competed in Germany last year and spent the past two summers as the leading the Kiwi in the five-round Toyota Racing Series before going on to compete in the European Formula 3 Championship this year.
Lawson was ready to race in New Zealand's premier single-seater category last summer but was not quite old enough to be allowed to compete.
He admitted that it is highly likely he drives in the series this summer though.
"We are working on that hard at the moment," Lawson told The Herald. "I would really like to be racing in that series.
"Last year I got ruled out because of my age but this year is definitely on the cards and we are working towards that right now."
Series manager Nicolas Caillol has been traveling to Europe and the United States in recent weeks as the series starts to assemble a grid.
Historically some of the most talented up and coming drivers from around the world make their way Down Under during the northern hemisphere off-season though the 2018 grid was short a few drivers this year.
Lawson feels with some tweaks, including FIA super license points up for grabs now, a bumper field will contest the series.
"A lot of Europeans come and do it," he said. "Last year they struggled with the grid but I think this year it should be a much better turn-out with super license points and stuff like that.
"I wouldn't be surprised if some of the Formula 4 grid in Germany and other categories in Europe would come down to do it."