Hometown hero Lachlan Evennett makes history at Townsville 500 in 2025 TGRA GR Cup Toyota 86s

Evennett made history at the Townsville 500, becoming the first homegrown driver to stand on a podium in the event’s 16-year history. Find out what the teenage motorsports star had to say after the race.

Townsville racer Lachlan Evennett made his 2025 TGRA GR Cup debut at the Townsville 500, claiming pole position in qualifying. Picture: Jack Martin.

Townsville’s Lachlan Evennett made history at the Townsville 500, becoming the first homegrown driver to stand on a podium in the event’s 16-year history.

The teenage sensation has been making waves in the Australian motorsports scene for the last 18 months, but Saturday’s 2025 TGRA GR Cup success could be Evennett’s best result yet.

The 17-year-old Pimlico High student claimed pole position in qualifying for his first race in the Toyota 86 series, before finishing third in the opening race.

Evennett said he was over the moon to start the opening round in such a strong position.

“It was a pretty great feeling, to be honest. I didn’t really know what to expect going into the year, so to come out with the pole and know that I have the pace to be up in the front pack was really good,” Evennett said.

Townsville racer Lachlan Evennett made his 2025 TGRA GR Cup debut at the Townsville 500, finishing third in his first race. Picture: Jack Martin.

“It gave me a boost in confidence, I think, for the rest of the year. It didn’t feel like a pole lap, it felt pretty average, but when I came back in and they told me that I was on pole, I was ecstatic.”

Evennett had a great debut race, holding the lead for eight laps before Supercars driver Declan Fraser overtook him to claim victory while Evennett shuffled back to third to claim a podium finish in race 1, followed by a solid fifth-place finish in race 2.

Townsville racer Lachlan Evennett made his 2025 TGRA GR Cup debut at the Townsville 500, finishing third in his first race. Picture: Jack Martin.

While it wasn’t the rising racing talent’s first attempt at the Reid Park track, he said it was a great experience in the more technical four-cylinder Toyota 86.

“It was awesome, I enjoyed it quite a lot. I did it last year in the Aussie car, but I think it’s a bit different in the 86. I think it runs curbs better and it’s a little bit more technical,” Evennett said.

“I really enjoyed it and had a lot of fun over the weekend. My race pace wasn’t quite as good as my ‘qualy’ pace, and I think I needed to be a bit more aggressive over the weekend, but I think it’s something I can take into Ipswich.”

Fraser won the first two races of the series – though as one of Toyota’s experienced drivers dropped into the Townsville 500 his results won’t count towards the TGRA GR Cup championship – but the Mackay talent fell back in the order at the start of race 3, managing to finish second behind James Lodge.

Townsville racer Lachlan Evennett made his 2025 TGRA GR Cup debut at the Townsville 500, claiming pole position in qualifying. Picture: Jack Martin.

Race 3 on Sunday required a safety car following an incident at the back of the field on the first lap involving Alice Buckley.

That lengthy delay meant Evennett had to settle into seventh place after starting at P5, with about eight minutes of racing left after the debris was cleaned up.

A hard-fought battle ensued with some of the most exciting racing of the weekend as Heath Lodge usurped Fraser to deny the North Queensland Supercars talent a third-straight win, while Evennett got caught up in a frenetic fight for positions and finished ninth.

Townsville racer Lachlan Evennett made his 2025 TGRA GR Cup debut at the Townsville 500, claiming pole position in qualifying. Picture: Jack Martin.

Evennett said he would need to work on being more assertive in the future to hold onto his place when the pressure builds up.

“I think I was a little bit conservative, and maybe even a little bit too conservative,” he said.

“I could have been more aggressive, everyone was going out hammer and tongs and it’s a little bit different to what I’m used to.

“I think it’s just a little bit different of a driving style. I just need to get my elbows out and be a bit more aggressive.”

The five-event 2025 TGRA GR Cup continues with the second meeting in Ipswich on August 8-10.

“You never really like going backwards through a race weekend. But I think I’ll take all the points I got, and I’m coming out of the weekend in a pretty good position,” Evennett said.

“The next one will be in about a month down in Ipswich, so it’s a home track for me and I’m pretty confident going in there.”

Originally published as Hometown hero Lachlan Evennett makes history at Townsville 500 in 2025 TGRA GR Cup Toyota 86s