Formula One

There’s plenty of Kiwi interest in the 17th race of 20 on this year's F1 calendar as Brendon Hartley becomes the ninth New Zealander to test himself at the pinnacle of the sport when he contests the US Grand Prix. The 27- year- old follows Bruce McLaren, Denny Hulme ( the only Kiwi winners with four and eight respectively), Chris Amon, Tony Shelly, Howden Ganley, Graham McRae, John Nicholson and Mike Thackwell on the big stage in getting his chance with Toro Rosso. Hartley has tested with the manufacturer in the past and has driven at The Circuit of the Americas, which hosts the GP for the sixth time. This will be the 47th US GP and the 39th as part of the F1 Championship. The race is a testing 56 laps of the 5.513km circuit for 308.405km. Lewis Hamilton won from pole a year ago from Nico Rosberg and Daniel Ricciardo. Hamilton has dominated this season, winning eight of 16 and failing to stand on the podium only five times, building a healthy 59- point buffer over Sebastian Vettel. With just 25 points for the winner of each race, Hamilton has his fourth world championship all but assured.