Close (22) is one of 10 drivers competing in the Australasian Young Drivers Championship across four tracks in New Zealand, starting at Cambridge tonight.
Other heats of the series are being run at Alexandra Park tomorrow, Addington on Saturday and Timaru on Sunday.
Last year's series, held in New South Wales, was won by Andre Poutama, who earns his entry to this year's competition by virtue of being the defending champion.
Poutama is joined by 2014 New Zealand Junior Drivers Championship winner Michelle Neilson, North Island representative Ben Butcher and Close, who is representing the South Island.
''It's my first crack and probably my only crack as well,'' he said.
Close is now sitting on 85 career wins and has driven in five seasons, which means he leaves the junior drivers ranks at the end of July and becomes an open horseman.
But he is excited about the next few days, judging by the feedback he has received from previous participants.
''The trip will be amazing - you meet a lot of people and that's the main thing,'' he said.
''I do watch a lot of North Island racing as that's originally where I was from, so I know a little bit of about them to know where they're placed and what they've done - I've hopefully got a wee bit of advantage.''
While local knowledge will help Close, he would simply be happy with a podium finish, with so much depending on the horses each driver has drawn.
''If I was somewhere around the top three at the end of the day, I'll be very happy. I can only put my name out there and try hard.''
Close aims to reach 100 career wins by the time the season ends on July 31, before turning his attention to learning more about the industry.
''I'll keep driving and learning how to train a little bit more. I own a yearling and hopefully he comes out and is a nice 2yr-old.''
Close's summary of his seven championship drives:
Cambridge tonight (two drives):
''I watched Gogirl Bromac [race 6] go last Sunday at the Thames meeting and it trotted quite nicely - it trots all the way. But Balius [race 8], they do pick it on Trottech [an online form guide] and it does have good form, so probably Balius out of those two.''
Alexandra Park, Friday (two drives):
''Nicole Vaidisova [race 8] raced in the amateur race and was just in behind them, but Art Pleaser [race 6] led up, went a nice time and just got run down late. He's a nice horse and I have raced against him a couple of times and he does go all right.''
Addington, Saturday (one drive):
''The Royal Garden [race 4] was very nice at Rangiora last start and ran home really good. If it gets a good trip it should be running over the top of them.''
Timaru, Sunday (two drives):
''Saint Michel [race 5] has drawn a handy draw of 1, so if it trots out of the gate it should be close. Smokin Chick [race 10] has been racing round in the amateur races, but the race is not overly strong so it should be right there at the finish.''
