PITSTOP DIARY Kiwi drivers on track for more success
OPINION: The close of the best year in New Zealand motorsport heralds a potentially better 2018.
A Kiwi driver in F1, Kiwis winning at Le Mans, the World Endurance Championship title, Super GT in Japan, Italian Formula 4 Championship, Porsche Carrera Cup Asia, Formula Masters, along with having drivers competing at the top level in the World Rally Championship, Indycar, Supercars and Formula E.
History will show that Kiwi involvement in international motorsport in 2017 will rank as one of its greatest years. Hartley’s Formula One callup was a surprise to many who had long given up on the idea of again having a Kiwi in such elite company.
With four F1 races under his belt, he heads into 2018 committed to a full-time drive with the Toro Rosso F1 team.
Hartley, along with fellow Kiwi Earl Bamber and German Timo Bernhard, not only won the 2017 24 Hours of Le Mans for Porsche but also the World Endurance Championship driver and manufacturers’ title.
Even more incredible was Bamber’s second win at Le Mans in two attempts. While Porsche have pulled out of the top LMP1 category, Bamber will still drive for the marque in the GT class at Le Mans with a chance for a class win.
For international rally driving, 2017 may be described as a year to forget but Hayden Paddon had a full-time works drive in WRC with Hyundai Motorsport.
Scott Dixon completed his 15th year in the 2017 Indycar Series finishing third overall. The four-time champion has only once been out of the top three placings since 2009 (sixth in 2016) and is highly regarded in the US racing scene.
Ferrari Junior Academy driver Marcus Armstrong nearly pulled off the double, winning the Italian F4 Championship and finishing runner-up in the ADAC German F4 Champs. The Christchurch teenager is one of the favourites for the 2018 Toyota Racing Series before he returns to Europe for the FIA F3 European Championship.
Motorsport in Asia continues to be highly competitive, attracting more Kiwi drivers each year. Nick Cassidy along with teammate Ryo Hirakawa won the 2017 championship in the GT500 class.
Cassidy was also doing double duties competing in the very quick Super Formula, also in Japan. Taylor Cockerton won the Formula Masters in China while Chris van der Drift won the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia Championship with Earl’s brother Will Bamber third overall.
All four drivers will again race in Asia in 2018. Kiwis finished runner-up in both the Australian Supercars Championship and the Porsche Carrera Cup Australia.
Three Kiwi Supercars drivers - Scott Mclaughlin, Shane van Gisbergen and Fabian Coulthard - won 17 out of 26 races in the 2017 season.
Mclaughlin finished runner-up to Jamie Whincup for the drivers’ title while Mclaughlin and Coulthard’s Shell V-power Racing Team won the teams’ title. The trio will be joined on the grid in 2018 by Richie Stanaway and Andre Heimgartner.
❚ Benjamin Carrell is the online editor of nzmotorracing.co.nz