Teenager takes first national motorsport title

Liam MacDonald and his flame-spitting Ford Falcon. Photo / Simon Chapman

19-year-old Liam MacDonald has won his first ever national title; claiming the Class Two 2016-'17 BNT NZ Touring Car Championship crown at Hampton Downs Motorsport Park.

"It's bit of a relief, I don't think it has actually sunk in just yet," MacDonald said, following the win.

"I have never raced at most of the North Island circuits, and we've picked up wins everywhere we've been. It's been a great season."

"Today, my car was quite strong towards the end of the race, and I just managed to catch up to Nick and slipped by on a part of the track where he was weak, at the hairpin."

MacDonald sat in second place for most of the race, but then took over the lead on the final lap after slotting inside former race leader Nick Farrier at the final corner leading onto the front straight. It's his 12th race win of the season.

What makes the race victory more significant is that it was MacDonald's first ever race at Hampton Downs Motorsport Park; having largely based most of his racing down South at circuits like Teretonga.

While both Class One and Class Two's titles have been sown up, the category still has two further races to run tomorrow at noon and 4.07pm.