"I applied for the academy last year and missed out so it was good to be accepted this year after trying so hard to win my class," Shepherd explained.
The academy, which uses sports science specialists from Otago University, is in its 10th year. Among its graduates who have gone on to greater things are former Red Bull F1 Development Squad member Brendon Hartley, 2012 GP3 champion and current GP2 class standout Mitch Evans and fellow Toyota Racing Series and New Zealand Grand Prix winner, Nick Cassidy.
The programme focuses on a range of skills, both physical and mental, required for high performance sport. Motorsport New Zealand president Shayne Harris said earning a place in the academy is an achievement in itself.
"The sports scientists have recognised the reflexes and fitness of some of the drivers who attend the academy are equivalent to those of Olympic athletes and their reaction times are equal to or better than those of fighter pilots. It's a tough demanding programme both physically and mentally and has become an integral component in assisting our young drivers to achieve their goals and fly the New Zealand flag on one of the most demanding sporting stages in the world," Harris added.
Shepherd, who owns Locker Solutions with his father and head mechanic John Shepherd and is in his third and final year of a bachelor of computing systems degree at EIT, pointed out that one of the programme's highlights is a simulated two- hour drive in a heat chamber set at 60-70 degrees celsius.
"This is the sort of heat SuperCar drivers in Australia can encounter. Public speaking, nutrition and a lot of mental toughness stuff will be covered. There's a little bit of physical stuff which will be covered each day which I won't be able to do because of my knee," Shepherd said. "Pre-race preparation is something I want to focus on during the course. I have yet to settle on a pre-race routine on race day which I like. Dealing with pressure isn't a problem for me ... I learnt that from golf," he said referring to his seven years as a golfer which saw him become a scratch handicapper and Hawke's Bay representative after being a member at both the Hastings and Maraenui clubs.
The Karamu High School product who was a successful cadet class karting racer in his younger days, is on a mission in the Formula First class.
"I want to try and better my brother and tutor's five national titles in the class," Shepherd said referring to his older brother Michael who is now Palmerston North-based and working as an IT manager for Toyota New Zealand.
"Obviously if an opportunity to race in a better class comes along before I beat Michael I will take it. Racing overseas is the ultimate goal and it will also be good to race in the Toyota Series," Shepherd added.
Providing he stays away from "two-wheel play arounds" Shepherd should achieve whatever goals he sets for himself on four wheels.
