Motorsport: Evans aims to be youngest NZGP champ

Mitch Evans holds the lap record at the new Hampton Downs motorsport complex. Photo / Bruce Jenkins

Auckland schoolboy Mitch Evans aims to become the youngest winner of the New Zealand Grand Prix at Manfeild in the Manawatu on Sunday.

At 15, Evans won the first race of the season at Invercargill. He has qualified on pole three times, and has won three races - all his best results coming on the Saturday of race weekend.

The New Zealand Motor Cup last weekend at Hampton Downs was no exception: Evans won the first-ever Toyota Racing Series (TRS) race at the new circuit, dominating from flag-to-flag on Saturday afternoon.

On Sunday, Andrew Waite won the second 15-lap race and Estonian Sten Pentus entered the history books with a fine win of the 20-lap Motor Cup race.

Evans holds the championship lead and has set the TRS - and outright - lap record at Hampton Downs with a one minute 01.846 seconds, set on lap 12 of the second race with a best speed of 153.090km/h.

The New Zealand Grand Prix weekend is the final round of the 12-race TRS international series which has this year been contested by drivers from Australia, Brazil and Estonia.

Tauranga racer Richie Stanaway, who has entered the Motor Cup and Grand Prix events to hone his craft while waiting for his European race and test season to start, will line up against Evans. Stanaway and Evans were long-time rivals in Formula Ford.

Lucas Foresti is one international driver who has contested all four international rounds of the series. Foresti won the third race of the season and is well capable of winning this weekend.

It is the other international entry, Pentus, who may prove one of the toughest opponents Evans faces in his quest to inscribe his name on the historic Grand Prix trophy.

As well as winning the Motor Cup race, Pentus also has his name on the Spirit of a Nation Cup, won at Teretonga track near Invercargill at the start of the international series.

Wanganui racer Earl Bamber is back in TRS after a break. He went head to head with Andy Knight for the title two seasons ago, battling to the last corner of the last race of the championship.

Last year he raced for the New Zealand A1GP team, and this season has been at the front of the TRS Championship battle.

Popular local driver Sam MacNeill makes a return to the TRS, drawn by the chance to once more contest the ultimate trophy at a track he loves.

"Manfeild has given me some good results and couple of real frights," MacNeill said.

"I am really looking forward to the GP. I like the Manfeild track and I enjoy racing in front of family and friends. It's going to be a great weekend."

None of the other racers can be discounted for a podium or race win during the weekend. Stefan Webling, of Oakura, has found renewed speed this year and is regularly in the top five, well placed to pounce on a momentary indiscretion from any of those in front.

Young Jamie McNee, of Wellington, has shown strong pace, as has Aucklander Alistair Wootten.

Going into Grand Prix weekend the TRS race win tally is Evans three, Pentus and Bamber two each, with Foresti and Waite each on one.

In the international stakes New Zealand drivers have won six races to the internationals' three.

Among the teams, Giles Motorsport has six wins, Triple X two wins and ETEC one.

Evans' series lead has narrowed from 30 to 25 points with Bamber and Pentus tied for second on 533, and Foresti fourth on 491.

- NZPA