Motorsport: Evans world's youngest Grand Prix winner at 16

Europe is the next stop for Mitch Evans after his weekend win at Manfeild. Photo / Supplied

The big crowd at the Manfeild racetrack over the weekend saw a rising motor-racing star take a big step towards becoming an international name.

Sixteen-year-old Mitch Evans is now the youngest driver to win an international Grand Prix anywhere in the world.

Evans took out the 56th New Zealand Grand Prix in consummate style, leading an international pack of nine emerging drivers from four different countries.

The precocious Aucklander never looked troubled during the 35-lap race and took the chequered flag from Russian Red Bull Junior Development driver Daniil Kvyat and Aussie sensation Scott Pye.

"We came so close to winning it last year when I just missed out finishing second," said Evans. "We absolutely nailed it this weekend and the team was great. We had full control of the race and I didn't feel pressured at all - and what a way to start the year off.

"This will kick my whole career off and I can't wait to get to Europe."

Evans' name now sits alongside some the greats of motorsport, including Stirling Moss, Jack Brabham, John Surtees, Bruce McLaren, Graham Hill, Jackie Stewart, Chris Amon and Keke Rosberg.

"After 10 years with Mitch racing this is the best so far. It'll be great to go to Europe now having raced against all these internationals because it gives you credibility," said dad Owen Evans.

"Mitch will now be doing GP3 in Europe and has signed up with Mark Webber [F1 driver] as his manager and will race for his, and [Red Bull Racing's] Christian Horner's, MWArden team."

It must be hard for a mum to lean against a pit wall and watch her young son being fired around a racetrack at up 240km/h. Tracee Owen, though, is made of stern stuff.

"It's fantastic," she said. "I'm very proud of him. I'm proud of both my boys [Simon Evans races in the Porsche GT3 series]. Mitch has done well today and it's the pinnacle for us here before he heads off to Europe."

There was an international flavour to the weekend's other two TRS races with Kvyat winning Saturday's event. Fellow Russian Ivan Lukashevich took full advantage of being on pole for the reverse grid top six second race and leaped away to an early lead, winning from Kvyat and Evans.

The BNT V8s were also in action and this was a weekend for Tim Edgell to savour, as he was the round winner from Kayne Scott and Andy Booth. Angus Fogg still holds a narrow points lead in the championship from Craig Baird but the big winner on the day was Scott, whose second place puts him well and truly back in the mix.

"This round win has been a long time coming," Edgell said. "My family is all here and I'm so proud of being able to do well in front of them. It's been a tough year and it's great to be back on the podium."

Defending Porsche GT3 series champion Craig Baird was back at his best in his favoured class, collecting two wins and a fourth to haul himself back into contention for his seventh title. He was helped by series leader Daniel Gaunt's DNF in race one.