Tom Bewley: Rising Kiwi motorsport talent’s career in jeopardy over lack of sponsorship
Rising New Zealand motorsport talent Tom Bewley faces a career-threatening funding crisis as he struggles to secure sponsorship for the remainder of the Porsche Carrera Cup season. Despite strong on-track performances, he requires up to $200,000 to continue racing.
Why it matters
The story highlights the financial barriers faced by young athletes in high-cost sports like professional motor racing.
The career of rising Kiwi driver Tom Bewley could be over before it truly begins, unless he can secure enough funds to continue racing.
For all the on-track success of Australian-based Bewley, a lack of sponsorship is threatening to derail the 18-year-old’s rel="noreferrer" title="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/news/you-beauty-tom-bewley-hawkes-bay-13-year-old-kart-racer-wins-north-island-title/VQODUIWPXPRJS7SNTCN6W2IKPY/">promising career racing in the Porsche Carrera Cup.
In his rookie season for Team Porsche New Zealand, Bewley sits fourth in the junior standings, and 11th overall, off the back of a career-best fourth-placed finish at The Bend in South Australia – just seconds off a maiden podium – having started his last two races on pole.
That upswing, against drivers many years his senior, came after a difficult start to the year in which Bewley struggled at the Australian Grand Prix, before a four-month gap and time out of the car.
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