Million dollar boost for young Kiwi racers
In the ‘you read it here first’ department, successful trans-Tasman businessman and entrepreneur Tony Quinn has pledged one million dollars to help nurture promising Kiwi motorsport talent.
In our cover story in the February issue of Motor Equipment News Quinn said that one of his next projects was to create a fund to help young New Zealand drivers fulfil their dream of international success.
Three months later Toyota New Zealand announced that Quinn had pledged $50,000 a year for the next 20 years to The Kiwi Driver Fund, the fund set up by the company and governed by independent, appointed trustees to help local drivers compete in the annual Toyota Racing Series.
The fund was set up last year and has already provided support for Brendon Leitch of Invercargill, James Munro of Christchurch and Taylor Cockerton from Pukekohe.
Leitch finished third overall, winning one race, while Munro was seventh with three podium finishes and Cockerton in his debut season was ninth in the championship.
Talking to Motor Equipment News at the Targa Rotorua event (where he and co-driver Naomi Tillett finished a close second) Quinn said:
“I’ve made a commitment for the next 20 years to develop young New Zealanders in motorsports. Look at what our young stars are doing on the world stage at present – they have done it with some help from some fantastic people and organisations like Toyota, but there’s not enough help. I want to see it be better, more organised and more sustainable.
“I admire what Toyota is doing for the future development of Kiwi racing drivers with the Toyota Racing Series and I will be encouraging members at Highlands and Hampton Downs to get involved too,” said Quinn.
“There is a depth of natural talent in New Zealand that is fostered on many different levels around the sport to create something incomparable around the world – is there something in the water? I feel as guardians of the sport, we should be doing what we can to assist these young Kiwis and their journey to the world stage.”
The contribution could not have come at a better time for Toyota, as the cost of the series has meant a gradual reduction in the number of resident Kiwis using it as a stepping stone in their fledgling careers.
“Tony Quinn’s commitment to developing young Kiwi drivers is greatly appreciated,” said Steve Boyce, Toyota New Zealand’s Motorsport Manager.
“We know it’s not easy financially for drivers to step up from the lower motorsport classes to do a full season of the Toyota Racing Series, so making more funding available for talented young drivers who mightn’t have the opportunity otherwise is a great help.”
The fund’s independent trustees consider applications from drivers for funding assistance before each series. Successful applicants use funding to offset some of the cost of leasing a Toyota Racing Series single seat racing car.
Other supporters of the fund include Poste Haste Couriers and Michelin tyres.