Kiara Zabetakis

Kiara Zabetakis is an Australian racing driver making waves in the TA2 Racing Muscle Car Series, where she’s proving that age and gender are no barriers to competing wheel-to-wheel with V8-powered American muscle.

EARLY YEARS

Born in 2007, Kiara Zabetakis grew up with motorsport in her blood and quickly developed a passion for racing that would define her teenage years[1]. Like many racers, she started young, but unlike most, she was already eyeing the kind of high-horsepower machinery that makes seasoned drivers think twice. By her mid-teens, Zabetakis was cutting her teeth in grassroots Australian motorsport, building the foundation for what would become a rapid ascent through the ranks. Her journey began in the kind of club-level racing that teaches you everything the hard way—how to race door-to-door, how to find grip where there isn’t any, and how to keep your cool when things go sideways. Australia’s motorsport scene is notoriously competitive, even at the entry level, and it became the perfect proving ground for a young driver with ambitions well beyond weekend racing. She competed in categories that emphasize driving skill over budget, learning racecraft in machines that reward precision and punish mistakes.

OTHER INTERESTS

Information about Kiara Zabetakis’s interests outside of motorsport is not currently available.

EARLY SUCCESS

Zabetakis cut her competitive teeth in the RX8 Cup series and the Hi-Tec Oils Super Series, gaining valuable race experience in spec machinery[4]. She competed at Sydney Motorsport Park in the RX8 Cup’s Round 4, where the series returned to the circuit for close, competitive racing[14]. Her participation in the Hi-Tec Oils Super Series at Sydney Motorsport Park on May 30-31 further developed her skills in wheel-to-wheel combat[11]. These grassroots series provided exactly what a young driver needs: regular racing, close competition, and seat time in cars that don’t forgive sloppy inputs. The experience built her racecraft and gave her the confidence to step up to something significantly more demanding. By late 2024, at just 17 years old, Zabetakis was ready to make the jump to TA2—a series where 500-horsepower V8 engines and purpose-built racing chassis separate the serious contenders from the hopefuls.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2025: Made her TA2 Racing Muscle Car Series debut at age 17 with LT Motorsport, driving the #58 Chevrolet Camaro[1][2][3].
• 2025: Competed in the season opener at The Bend Motorsport Park, South Australia, February 14-16[3][12].
• 2026: Confirmed to continue in the TA2 Muscle Car Series, competing at The Bend Motorsport Park season opener[4].

INSPIRATIONS

Information about Kiara Zabetakis’s specific inspirations and role models is not currently available.

REPUTATION

At just 17 years old when she made her TA2 debut, Zabetakis earned recognition as one of the youngest drivers to compete in the demanding series[3][9]. Her move to LT Motorsport placed her with a team known for developing talent and running competitive equipment in the TA2 championship[2]. The decision to step into a 500-horsepower V8-powered muscle car at such a young age demonstrated both her skill and her determination to compete at a high level. TA2 isn’t a gentle introduction to professional motorsport—it’s a full-contact series where drivers wrestle American muscle around some of Australia’s most challenging circuits, and mistakes are amplified by the sheer power and weight of the machines. Zabetakis’s willingness to take on that challenge as a teenager speaks volumes about her commitment. She joined a competitive field featuring experienced racers and proven champions, holding her own in a series where aggression and precision must coexist. Her presence in the series also contributes to the growing visibility of female drivers in Australian motorsport, particularly in categories traditionally dominated by male competitors. She’s not making noise about being a woman in racing—she’s just racing, which is exactly the approach that earns respect in the paddock.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

Zabetakis confirmed her continuation in the TA2 Muscle Car Series for the 2026 season, demonstrating her commitment to developing her career in the category[4]. She was listed among the entries for the 2026 season opener at The Bend Motorsport Park, indicating her intention to build on her debut season experience and establish herself as a regular competitor in the series[4]. With a full season of TA2 experience now under her belt, she’s positioned to refine her approach to the high-powered machinery and continue developing the skills needed to run at the front of the field. The TA2 series offers a clear pathway for drivers looking to establish themselves in professional motorsport, with its combination of competitive racing, national television coverage, and relatively controlled costs compared to other premier categories. For a young driver like Zabetakis, consistent seat time in the series provides the best possible education—racing against experienced competitors, learning different circuits, and mastering the art of managing a powerful rear-wheel-drive race car over the course of a full season. Her continued presence on the grid suggests she’s in this for the long haul, building a career one race at a time.

REFERENCES

Kiara Zabetakis – TA2 Racing Australia
Kiara Zabetakis Gets TA2 Series Debut – LT Motorsport
17-Year-Old Kiara Zabetakis Moves Up to the TA2 Muscle Car Series for 2025 – Velocity Magazine
2026 TA2 Muscle Car Series The Bend Entry List Season Opener Details – Speedcafe
17-Year-Old Kiara Zabetakis Moves Up to the TA2 Muscle Car Series for 2025 – TA2 Racing Australia Blog
Round 2 Sydney Motorsport Park May 30-31 – Hi-Tec Oils Super Series
Competitive Field Set for TA2 Muscle Car Series Season Opener at The Bend Motorsport Park – TA2 Racing Australia Blog
RX8 Cup Series Returned to Sydney for Round 4 – RX8 Cup
2025 TA2 Racing Muscle Car Series – Wikipedia
2026 TA2 Racing Muscle Car Series – Wikipedia