Profile
Get to know James
Motorsport's next success story
It has been my dream as long as I can remember to be a racing car driver. And now, that is finally happening!
In this supreme sporting arena, the odds may seem against me, and most may see this quest as an impossible dream, but that is what makes this all the more exciting and compelling. What sets me apart and what I really want to share with you is my unshakeable, unwavering knowing that I am destined to achieve this dream. The faith I have is the fibre of my story, it is what I race for. My commitment to rise above and overcome every challenge is why this is such an adventurous campaign.
Sure I started in go karts, that’s no surprise, and karts are really cool, they are ballistic, but just 5 race days in, I made the jump to cars after I displayed phenomenal lap times at the The Hampton Downs Racing Academy, launching myself full speed into the faster lane of motorsport where I belong.
I strongly believe that I have the talent, the passion, the work ethic, the teamwork, and the teachability to have a successful career in racing.
How James Corban got to where he is today
James always had the drive to have a career racing cars. After encouragement from Mike Eady, he gave it a go at the 2022 BMW scholarship day. He placed 3rd in his first time ever in a race car and driving on a race track. That was a very promising start.
Then in March 2023, he participated in a Hampton Downs Racing Academy day and in the words of Daniel Gaunt, “showed talent that I had only seen from the top 1% before him,” which put James in a race team straight away.
Then he won a BMW championship in his rookie season with Zero Seven Motorsport.
During this season, an opportunity presented itself to test with the top United States Formula 4 team. After James’ performance, he was offered a seat on the team in the front-running championship. While pursuing that, he decided that the best call for his career would be to stay in New Zealand. This way he could test in his own Formula car, and dedicate time to performance, training, and gaining experience before making his overseas debut.
Currently James Corban Racing has set its sights to Champion in Formula Open, and the Honda Cup with Trass Family Motorsport, while pursuing CTFROC - the pinnacle Formula series in Oceania.
James and the new members on his team are on fire, working hard, and pursuing all that is in front of them with diligence, discipline, and determination. This is the time to jump onboard and be a part of James Corban Racing’s success!
Noteworthy figures like Gerald Trass, Mike Eady, and Kenny Smith recognize James as one of New Zealand's promising talents in motorsport. James appreciates the value of these relationships with motorsport icons like these.
Timeline & Story
The next step is to be racing Gerald Trass’, from Trass Family Motorsport, Fast n furious Momo-wrapped Honda Integra DC2 in the Motul Honda Cup starting in October 2024.
James Corban Racing has purchased a Tatuus FT40 which is an open wheeler, Formula car of Formula Regional level. Plans are to test and race this in the Formula Open series in New Zealand later this year. The intention is for it to provide the training platform for James to progress to the new generation FT60 and race in the CTFROC series in January. That series will put James on the international map in a big way. With massive exposure in his rookie season of Formula cars against international drivers.
The Level 3 day involved more solid track time, professional driving instruction and elite coaching. James’ high level of skill and technique were again recognised by being compared to a Formula One Driver. This is very encouraging and affirming given his trajectory for success in professional motorsport.
James raced in the Motul Honda Cup for Gerald Trass - owner of Trass Family Motorsport.
James embraced an opportunity and was more than capable of accepting a last-minute challenge to compete in an unfamiliar car and series.
He was fastest car on semi slicks, despite the obvious lack of upgrades and disadvantage in comparison to his competition. Events like this certainly enable the strong relationships that lead to a racing career that is more than just the fast driving for James. It’s with expectation that James is looking forward to even more impressive results in the up-coming season with his mate, Gerald, by his side.
21-year-old James debuted his racing career with Zero Seven Motorsport in October 2023
“James was introduced to me as a young man with a dream and no experience. We provided him with a car and the opportunity to test/practice and become a race driver. He immediately showed a natural ability and an attitude to learn. Over the course of our BMW race series season, he became a competent and confident race driver. He is willing to go wheel-to-wheel and get the most from the car and capitalise on opportunities that arise. Worth noting as a car owner he always brought the car back in one piece! James has the ability and the desire to do well, the kid needs a break.”
After a lethal qualifying on old wets, James managed to outperform everyone in his class and the majority of the people in the faster class. James gained 18.5 seconds on 1st place in 6 laps in his handicapped race on slick tyres in the wet.
Showing his car control, confidence, and natural ability. James went from 12th to 5th in a 10-lap multiclass race, narrowly missing out on 1st-in-class by losing a drag race to a more powerful car on the final straight.
James was the fastest in his class on wet tyres.
"His progress through the year was highlighted by an outstanding display in the final round of the season in very wet conditions, firstly in a very wet race on full wets for the first time and then on a wet but drying track on slicks. In both races, he was fast and placed ahead of many faster race cars and more experienced competitors."
Paul Weir - Owner of Zero Seven Motorsport
Owner of Zero Seven Motorsport
James was invited to test with the most successful Formula 4 and Formula Regional team in the USA, Kiwi Motorsport. On a crowd-funded trip to California, James experienced wings and slicks race cars for the first time.
He did exceptionally well. James was 2 seconds quicker than 2 other F4 drivers on the same day with this being his first time in a Formula 4 car. He was also very consistent. James’ highlight was doing three identical laps in a row. As a result, James got the drive. After his performance, the team invited him back to race in with them. However, James is pursuing opportunities elsewhere.
James won the BMW Open C Endurance Championship in his rookie year of racing on 18 February 2024. These races showed his consistency as well as his competency in on-track battles.
Further showcasing his adaptability, James stepped into a Formula First car in mid-2023 in Fielding. Despite only three sessions, in unfavourable wet conditions and competing against drivers with two days of practice, his lap times rivalled those of previous scholarship recipients in DRY conditions.
"We have had drivers such as Liam Lawson, Shane Van Gisbergen, Louis Sharp, and more drive with us. James came and did half a day of practice with Sabre Motorsport in our Speedsport Scholarship Formula First car. His lap times compared with our previous scholarship drivers who had two days of practice and a dry track, despite James only having three sessions in wet conditions."
Dennis Martin - Owner of Sabre Motorsport
Owner of Sabre Motorsport
In March 2023, James participated in a Hampton Downs Racing Academy Day. In his second-ever race car experience driving a Toyota GT86, he matched one instructor's lap time of 41.9 in his first session. In the second session at a laptime of 41.45, he outpaced the quicker instructor by three-tenths, breaking his own record by half a second. Both instructors are recognised international race winners. Despite being told that he would not go any faster due to a slowing track, he broke his laptime and clocked an impressive 41.30, just four-tenths off Shane Van Gisbergen's lap record. This remarkable debut led to James getting on a racing team.
"James showed talent at the academy that I had only seen from the top 1% before him. He was teachable, took on my advice, and became faster than my professional instructors on his second day in a car. From that, I got him onto a race team to get him started in motorsport."
Daniel Gaunt - Hampton Downs Racing Academy co-owner, professional racing driver, TRS champion, and Australian driver’s champion.
Hampton Downs Racing Academy co-owner, professional racing driver, TRS champion, and Australian driver’s champion.
James' introduction to race cars was in August 2022 through the BMW Driving Scholarship, where, in his first-ever race car and track experience, he secured a commendable 3rd position against seasoned drivers.
Skill development on his racing simulator
Beyond the physical track James dedicates substantial time to his skill development on his racing simulator which he prioritised as a significant personal investment to hone his competitive edge and gain experience on international tracks and a variety of race cars. With his simulator, James is also able to offer coaching and shared driving experiences as he places value on helping others achieve.
“It’s awesome to be able to let people experience how real the race driving is, and allow them to become part of this journey for themselves”
This advanced training combined with professional mentoring, personal nutrition and exercise programmes ensures James is furthering a holistic approach to health, racing performance and all-round athletic development.
Words from Kenny Smith - NZ GP Winner
“I’ve worked with Liam Lawson, Greg Murphy, Scott Dixon, Brendon Hartley and more, helping them get career deals in racing as they showed promise. I’m working with James at the moment because he is showing great promise and I consider him as one of New Zealand’s up-and-coming talents.”
Kenny Smith
NZ GP Winner 1976, 1990, 2004
Words from Kiwi Motorsport
“James Corban tested with us at Thunderhill in California at the beginning of March. He did a very good job. He did two days. Put in very good respectable lap times. Improved every session. Made big improvements. He would do very well over here in the series he is looking at running in which is the US F4 FIA Championship. It’s a new car this year so it’s going to be a big learning curve for everybody. But I think that we will be able to put a good set of wheels underneath him and he will do well.”
Garry Orton
Owner of Kiwi Motorsport
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