With the likes of Scott Dixon, Brendon Hartley and Scott McLaughlin plying their trade at the top level, Kiwi motorsport appears to be in a golden age, and 17-year old Jacob Cranston could be the next name on that star studded list.
A five-time national kart champion, Cranston is moving up into the Toyota 86 series, one of seven rookies moving into the competition beginning next week.
However, after competing since the age of seven, Cranston's next move comes as a surprise to even himself.
"I had goals set out for certain ages, and I've jumped into a car probably three, four years younger than I thought I was going to," he told 1 NEWS.
The son of former racer Andrew Cranston, Jacob's rise wouldn't have been possible without help from his family, making sacrifices to see him succeed.
"He sold his Porsche, gave up his racing. My sister had to sell her horse as well.
"They love motor sport. We're all about it. My granddad raced, and he raced with Dad as well."
Proud father Andrew though, says his son still has a long way to go.
"He's adapted very quickly, still a lot to learn.
"We're just going to take it one meeting at a time...It's a six-round series, so we're sort of hoping by the end of the series, he's at the pointy end. That's our main goal really."
Hailing from Palmerston North, comparisons between Jacob and Formula 1 ace Brendon Hartley are inevitable, although the youngster has a different career path in mind to his compatriot.
"It'd be cool to go that far but I'd rather be racing V8 SuperCars."
Funnily enough, Jacob's Toyota 86 Series debut will come at the curtain raiser for his V8 heroes, taking to the track in Pukekohe this weekend.
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