Young Mount Gambier star Kai Allen (pictured) will continue his rise through the motorsport ranks this year after signing with powerhouse team Eggleston Motorsport for the 2022 Dunlop Super3 Series.
The 16-year-old will race an ex-Jamie Whincup Triple Eight-built VE Commodore for the Melbourne-based team this year which will be just the start of an exciting chapter for the talented teen.
Allen has signed a two-year agreement with Eggleston Motorsport and will step up into the Dunlop Super2 Series with the team in 2023 following a learning year in Super3.
It marks Eggleston’s return to Super3 – a series where the team are already two-time champions, having won the V8 Touring Cars title in 2014 and 2015, while Allen finished third on his debut in the Toyota Gazoo Racing 86 Series in Townsville last July, proving his ability in a strong field.
Before that he was a two-time Australian Karting Champion, with 12 state titles to his credit.
He was also named the top karter in the country by KartOz magazine.
Last year he moved to the Gold Coast, living with Paul Morris and working at the Norwell Motorplex to fine-tune his driving skills and firmly embed himself within a race team environment.
Allen will race Triple 8 chassis 888A-027, raced by Jamie Whincup in the 2010 Supercars season and part of the team’s famous 1-2 finish in that year’s Bathurst 1000 where it finished second.
The car also won the Super2 Series with Andrew Thompson in 2011, before finishing runner-up with Scott Pye behind the wheel a year later.
The Holden VE Commodore has been part of the Eggleston stable for some time with successful campaigns in Super2 since.
The team will test at Winton Motor Raceway in Victoria next week ahead of the opening round of the Dunlop Super3 Series to be held at Sydney Motorsport Park on March 4-6.
Eggleston Motorsport co-owner and team manager Rachael Eggleston said there would be a lot of faith and support behind Allen.
“We are so excited to be able to bring a new young talent into Supercars to begin, what we believe, will be a very successful career,” she said.
“We see huge talent in Kai, as do many people who are supporting him and have helped him to get to this point.
“He has a lot of natural ability, a great attitude and has a keen interest and understanding of the mechanical side.
“Bringing in and developing young talent is a real passion of ours and we hope to be a part of Kai’s journey for the long term, which is why we have signed him for two years.
“Super3 is the ideal place to learn the ins and outs of racing a Supercar, before stepping into Super2 the following season.
“We are confident that he will join drivers like Will Brown and Brodie Kostecki who have driven with EMS and have gone on to star in the main series in their rookie seasons.”
Allen was touched by the promotion and could not wait to take further strides towards his ambition.
“I cannot thank Ben and Rachael Eggleston enough for the opportunity to be a part of their professional team,” he said.
“Ben and Rachael have helped many young drivers like Brodie Kostecki and Will Brown to become successful and my aim is also to have a career in Supercars.
“I know it is going to take a lot of hard work, but being involved with a great team like the Eggleston’s and having the guidance of Paul Morris, Brodie Kostecki and Nathan Cayzer behind me is so valuable.”
“I would like to thank my sponsors Boost Mobile, Norwell Motorplex, JGI Earthwork Supplier and Recycler and the Evans family from Mount Gambier’s Homestyle Bakery.”
