Upper Hunter product Rylan Gray will hit the streets of Adelaide this weekend with a chance to become a Super2 Series champion. A few months later, he will make the step up to Supercars, becoming a full-time driver with one of Australian motorsport's most successful teams.
Gray has already raced in Supercars, debuting as a wildcard at Darwin and racing the enduro races at Bathurst and The Bend this year. He is still on his P plates when driving on public roads, but such is his talent, he has been picked up by Dick Johnson Racing (DJR) for a maiden season next year.
"We started when I was 14, and [at] 18 have made it into the main game. So it's been a very quick progression for me," Gray told the Newcastle Herald. "I've had to get in a lot of different cars and learn how to drive them very quickly."
Gray, who turned 19 last week, was born into a motorsport family. After competing in motocross for years, he switched to cars at the legal age. Initially racing Hyundai Excels, he has competed in the Toyota 86 Series, Aussie Racing Cars, Super3, GT4 Australia Series and for the past two years, Super2.
He finished seventh in his maiden Super2 season last year, but is now on the cusp of winning the series. Gray (1299 points) simply needs to finish both races in Adelaide this weekend, but can claim the title on Saturday if he finishes a spot ahead of his Tickford Racing teammate Lochie Dalton (1152).
Last month, Gray accepted an offer to join DJR for the 2026 Supercars season. He will have 2023 championship winner Brodie Kostecki as a teammate. "Rylan has earned this opportunity through results," DJR chairman Ryan Story said.
