Motorsport: Canadian teen strolls to double triumph

Lance Stroll, right, celebrates with his father Lawrence after winning the New Zealand Grand Prix. Photo / Bruce Jenkins

Motor racing supervet Kenny Smith couldn't make it on to the grid for the 60th running of the New Zealand Grand Prix at Manfeild yesterday.

Despite every effort the 72-year-old wasn't able to tick off his 48th NZGP start, so it was up to the youngsters in the Toyota Racing Series field to battle it out.

The average age of the 20-car grid of 16 internationals and four Kiwis was 17 and they all attacked the feature race of the weekend, and the series in general, with the gusto expected of youthful exuberance. When the chequered flag was unfurled at the end of the 35 laps it was Canadian Lance Stroll who was pumping the air in delight.

By winning the NZGP the 16-year-old had clinched the double of the Grand Prix and series title. Stroll had sealed the championship in the morning's race by finishing third behind winner American Santino Ferrucci and Scot Sam MacLeod. His nearest rival in the overall championship, Indian Arjun Maini, ended his series' challenge when he suffered suspension damage early in the race.

"I knew in this morning's race that after Arjun had gone off all I had to do was finish in front of Brandon [Maisano 8th] to win the championship. So I knew third was good enough," said Stroll.

"Winning the Grand Prix made it a great day and I'm very happy. Even when Arjun and Brandon went off in front of me I knew it wasn't over and that I had 15 laps until the finish.

"I had to stay focused and do my job correctly, which I did being consistent and not making any mistakes and it worked out."

On hand to watch his son's progress over the five-week, 16-race series was his dad Lawrence Stroll, the successful fashion magnate.

The teenager has now added the TRS championship to the Italian Formula Four title he won last year and is now one of the Ferrari Drivers Academy's brightest stars.

"Obviously it couldn't be better, winning the championship and the New Zealand Grand Prix on the same day. All-out perfection," said Stroll senior. "The series has been fantastic and we couldn't have spent a better five weeks racing and the preparation for his [Lance's] F3 series in Europe this year couldn't be better.

"The competition standard has been fantastic and my hat's off to the organisation as they've done a fantastic job."

Stroll led the championship after the first race at Ruapuna, and despite the close attention of Maini, Maisano and others, he was never headed and remained at the forefront of the series after every race.

"Qualifying is one thing and it does put you in a good place for the race," he said yesterday.

"But if you don't know how to race you'll never win. I've always been focused in improving my racecraft and it's worked for me these last five weeks," he said.

In another tough weekend for the Kiwis in the field the best of the bunch, Damon Leitch, finished 10th followed by Jamie Conroy 12th, James Munro 15th and Brendon Leitch 16th.