Repco’s young driver scholarship recipient and Kiwi karting ace Louis Sharp is excited to make his first step into a national single-seater series this weekend for the first round of the New Zealand Formula First Championship.
The Christchurch youngster made his race car debut in the Formula First class in the Manfield Winter Series in August. There, he immediately left his mark by clinching a victory in only his second race outing and doing so in the same car that Red Bull protegee Liam Lawson won his first race in back in 2015.
This weekend, however, will have Sharp compete on the national scale with the first of eight rounds set to get underway this weekend at Manfeild.
Sharp will also be one of the first drivers to begin the Accelerate to the Podium project led by Kiwi motorsport team Track Tec Racing.
The concept aims to act as a springboard for young New Zealanders to land a drive in the Toyota Racing Series, opening an extensive range of international opportunities.
“We are thrilled to be running such a good talent in the NZ Formula First Championship,” Track Tec Racing’s team manager Matt Waters said.
“While it would be great to win races and a championship, the objective is to gain race experience, learn race craft and gather as many points as we can.”
The 13-year-old added his excitement for the weekend where he aims to quickly learn from the competitors who come into the championship boasting a lot more car racing experience.
“I’m really excited to be competing in the NZ Formula First Series,” said Sharp. “It will be lots of fun and I’m sure I will learn lots from all the experienced competitors and I look forward to racing on some of New Zealand’s best circuits.”
Seven rookies will make up a 16-strong grid this weekend which also sees the return of 2019/20 runner-up Chris Symon and third-place getter Liam Foster.
Three races are scheduled for the weekend, one on Saturday and two on Sunday.
2020/21 NZ Formula First Championship Calendar:
- Round 1: Manfeild Circuit Chris Amon 24-25 October 2020
- Round 2: Hampton Downs Motorsport Park 30-21 October 2020
- Round 3: Pukekohe Park 4-6 December 2020
- Round 4: Bruce McLaren Motorsport Park 9-10 January 2021
- Round 5: Hampton Downs Motorsport Park 22-24 January 2021
- Round 6: Manfeild Circuit Chris Amon 12-14 February 2021
- Round 7: Pukekohe Park 5-7 March 2021
- Round 8: Bruce McLaren Motorsport Park 26-28 March 2021