North's drivers deserve support

To be competitive in sports you need strong backing as well as the raw talent in your chosen field. This is particularly vital in motorsport, where the cost of racing is high indeed.

New Zealand has sent many a driver out into the world to compete on the international scene over the years and continues to do so to this day - but what of our drivers coming out of the North?

The likes of McLaren, Hulme, Amon, Radisich, Bourne and more have been joined by a new era competing in Europe, the Americas and Asia such as Dixon, Evans, Cunningham, Bamber, Hartley, Reid, van der Drift and Paddon. And, of course, competing closer to home are Coulthard, van Gisbergen and McLaughlin.

Nobody could argue the quality of our Kiwi drivers who have been or are prevalent in the world's greatest motor racing championships including WRC, Formula One, V8 Supercars, WTCC, Indycars, GP2, Le Mans, FIAGT1 and more feeding classes to mention that lead to the top and open gateways to become the world's best.

But raw talent is not enough to avail our youth of these opportunities, and strong financial backing is now the main catalyst between becoming a household name or slipping into oblivion and being swept up into the workforce like the rest of us mere mortals.

We have two things going for us in Northland when it comes to motorsport.

Firstly, there are the talented drivers coming out of this region - and there never has been a shortage of them. Just get along to some local events and you can see this for yourself, as the up and coming mix it with those who have had their day and still delight in the fun of it all.

What we also have going for us are the facilities, which include the speedways in Whangarei, Dargaville and Kaikohe, The Whangarei Kart Club, Whangarei Motorcycle Club and the Northland Car Club who hold many events on public roads, including the popular Ruakaka Rallisprint.

With the talent already there, endlessly supportive families and quality facilities established to feed our youth into all types of motorsport, I can see all that is needed to add our local boys and girls into the growing list of New Zealanders competing abroad is the money.

Proven young Northland drivers such as Caine Lobb, Ben Jagger, Scott Harrison, Dan Woolhouse, Gaz Whiter, Robee Nelson and Thomas McLean have without doubt the ability to compete overseas, and some have already. But without some large investment, they will be left behind - perhaps to be replaced by less talented but better-funded competitors.