From rookie to championship winner
Most racing drivers start from childhood, driving cars before they can legally do it on the road. For 21-year-old Josh Verkley, that dream didn’t start until his late teens.
Verkley, who works at Hampton Downs Motorsport Park, funds and manages his own racing career. In a few short years, he’s gone from a complete beginner to NZ Honda Cup champion.
“Ever since I was little, I’d been a big motorsport fan,” Verkley said. “I used to go to the Supercars every year from when I was five. I loved racing, but I never thought I could actually do it myself; it just didn’t seem possible.”
It wasn’t until Verkley started his job at Hampton Downs in 2021 that he realised there were opportunities for him to get behind the wheel. He had spent two days at the NZ Racing Academy learning from ex-V8 supercar driver Daniel Gaunt and endurance driver Andrew Waite.
“I was hooked, from there on out, I knew this is what I wanted to do”
Starting late meant catching up fast. For a year, Verkley was testing a variety of cars. From BMW E46s, Toyota 86s, to SsangYong utes. Paying for track time and running costs out of his own pocket.
Motorsports financial strain is something Verkley knows well. “The hardest part, though, is always finding the funds to get on track. Most of the time, there’s not much left in reserve, and that can be tough, but my love for the sport keeps me coming back.”
When the NZ Honda Cup introduced a new lease programme, Verkley seized the chance to race competitively. He entered the 2023–24 season as a rookie and finished it as champion.
He clinched the title narrowly. Taking pole and a race win in the final round, he was able to secure his victory by seven points.
“I was hungry for it. I had a point to prove that I was good enough to be here doing this”
The win remains his proudest achievement so far, though he does enjoy the small moments too. “I’ve had some great battles on track, and even being the fastest in a session is something to be proud of.”
Verkley is now stepping up to the BMW E46 series. The cars are the same, but he’s still doing it his way. “I’m focused on developing as a driver and seeing how far I can push myself.”
That personal drive is what keeps him pushing forward even when things get difficult. “Being the best I can be whenever I’m in the car is what pushes me to improve. I also try to make the most of every lap and every session, because opportunities like that are limited.”
For those wanting to start but think they’ve missed their shot, Verkley disagrees. “If it’s something you’re passionate about and willing to put a lot of time and effort into, then I don’t see why you can’t do it”.
