The Young Haleians are very pleased to announce Ruairidh Avern (2018-2023) as the recipient of the 2025 Endeavour Award, helping to aid his pursuit of an already promising future in the field of motor racing.
Ruairidh has been keen on cars since early childhood, learning everything he could about design, aerodynamics, engines and racing. He has been karting since Year 11 and since departing Hale in 2023, Ruairidh has been moving through the karting world, winning the 2024 WA Karting Championship and State Titles in just his second year of racing. He has subsequently joined Arise Racing in their Driver Development Program and is learning to drive Radical racing cars, a popular segway into Formula and GT Racing.
This program has taken Ruairidh around Australia, driving against some of the country’s best drivers on some iconic tracks including Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, Sydney Motorsport Park, Sandown Raceway and most recently the Shell V-Power Motorsport Park at The Bend. The season ended in September 2025 where he secured fourth place overall (out of 24 cars) and was the top-scoring rookie.
“Racing is more than just driving a car around a track,” says Ruairidh. “It requires constant training, a technical understanding of the car setup, the ability to work within a team for optimal performance, focus, discipline, and the ability to make split-second decisions whilst remaining calm. Off track requires dedication to health and fitness, and working with a team on sponsorship, promotion and SIM training.”
This summer, Ruairidh hopes to compete in the Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy in New Zealand – dependant on funding. Within the 12-18 months, he will be looking at international racing opportunities further afield to compete against new drivers, gain international experience and promote himself further afield. This is most likely going to be Europe or the Middle East.
Furthermore, he has recently been appointed as an Ambassador for the mental health charity Zero2Hero to promote their valuable work – something he sees as a continuation of community service for which he was awarded Symbols at Hale. At the same time, he is studying for a double degree BSc Hons in Engineering (Mechatronics) with a BSc in Technology (Motorsports) at Edith Cowan University, balancing racing with full-time study,
By the end of 2026, Ruairidh plans to make the move to the US for the USF2000 series. My ultimate goal is to race in INDYCAR in the US or Le Mans Endurance in Europe. These have been my dreams since I started racing.
“I know the pathway is possible – and with the right support, I will make it happen.
Winning this award would make a real difference to me. Every contribution helps me get closer to the grid, and this award would go directly towards my racing costs. More importantly, it would be a sign of support from my school community. That support is just as valuable as the money itself. Having support from the Hale Community gives me confidence and motivation to keep pushing through the challenges that come with this sport.”
