Joining motorsport elite
After King’s College student Billy Frazer got gifted his first go-kart on his 7th birthday, he became engulfed in the world of motorsports.
Since winning his first ever race, Billy hasn’t looked back and now the 15-year-old he has started competing in the open wheel Formula First class and came fifth place in the National Series last season.
Billy is looking to advance his skills this year, as he and seven others have recently been selected for the prestigious New Zealand 2018 Elite Motorsport Academy.
‘‘I think that the academy is a great way for me to improve over all for me as an athlete...because it’s getting to the point in my racing career when it’s more than just driving,’’ Billy said.
The Pukekohe local has also represented New Zealand in 2015 at the Rok Cup finals in Italy and also competed in the SKUSA SuperNationals in Las Vegas.
Billy’s father Jim has been a driving force in his love of motorsports, and was there to cheer him on at the international races.
‘‘It was fantastic and fantastic for Billy and getting a taste for that. He wants more of that,’’ he said.
The Elite Motorsport Academy has been set up by Motorsport New Zealand to support the all-round development - physical, mental and commercial - of aspiring motorsport talent.
The Academy starts off in July with a week-long camp in Dunedin run by world class tutors and academics from the Academy of Sport South Island and the University of Otago’s School of Physical Education’s Human Performance Centre.
This is followed up with 12 months of mentoring and support as participants take the skills learned back into their racing lives.
With the Academy camp only a month away, Billy has been continuing to train hard and prepare physically.