Speedway: Young gun Thomas McLean defies his rookie tag

Thomas McLean achieved his goal of finishing in the top half of the field at the National TQ Championships. Photo/John Stone

The goal was simple for Whangarei speedway driver Thomas McLean: finish in the top half of the 41-car field at the nationals. But to finish 12th in his debut season is far more than he bargained for.

At 16, the rookie could do no wrong at the TQ Championships after setting a challenging, yet attainable, goal for himself.

However, McLean doesn't have long to savour a top-12 finish at the national championships, held over Friday and Saturday nights, having to race again this weekend in Auckland.

McLean said he was happy with the finish, which made him the top-finishing rookie at the event.

"We were pretty happy with where we finished, for a couple of laps we found a groove up high and passed a few cars but ran into this big rut which put us back where we started."

McLean made it easy for himself in the final, after earning an early entry into that race with good placings in the earlier heats.

"It caught me by surprise when we qualified for the top 18 and went straight into the final."

Qualifying and starting the race in 15th, McLean moved through the field into what could have been a top-10 finish until becoming hindered by a rut on the track resulting in losing some valuable positions.

McLean's mother, Carolyn, said it was only just setting in what her son had actually achieved.

"We're rapt, it took him awhile though. He was a bit disappointed to start with because of his finish, but when we said to him 'hey, you were the only rookie', I think it set in.

"That last race we've never seen him drive like that before. He gave it his all and it was awesome, he just went for it," Carolyn explained, after watching from the stands in Christchurch.

"He just takes it all in his stride. Now the nationals are over, the focus is on getting to the end of the season. There's only three races to go so the focus is to stay as that lead rookie and lead B-class driver."

Currently, McLean sits seventh overall, with Carolyn adding that maybe his experience from the nationals could mean a move into the top five.

Carolyn wanted to thank the Gary Harris Team who has taken McLean under their wing and looked out for him.

Next up for McLean is a return to Western Springs this Saturday to race the TQ Midgets series.