It has been a big year for eighteen-year-old Timaru apprentice mechanic Will Kitching following his debut in the Nexen Tyre NZ Mazda Racing Series over the summer.
Following a successful rookie season in the category, Kitching recently attended the Elite Motorsport Academy camp run by Motorsport New Zealand in Dunedin.
The academy covers numerous topics to assist young drivers, including fitness, sports psychology, nutrition, data analysis, public speaking, media training, and more. Kitching emerged from the week hailing it as “an amazing experience.”
“After a number of attempts in previous years to secure a spot in the illustrious academy, my personal growth and on-track results were recognised by the Elite Motorsport Academy Trustee, and I was accepted this year,” he said.
Kitching enjoyed the fitness aspects the most. “They were tough, but I like to push myself.” However, he quickly adds that he “enjoyed every aspect of the week.”
“I am a little bit shy and nervous when dealing with media and carrying out public speaking, but that part of the week gave me newfound confidence and made me much more comfortable with it. It was also good to get to know the other boys and build friendships with them. They are all good people.”
In addition to the week in camp, the academy programme has a 12-month follow-up package for attendees.
Kitching’s time at the academy came after an extremely successful debut season in the Mazda Racing Series, during which he finished third in the New Zealand Championship and runner-up in the South Island Championship. He also won a round at Levels in Timaru in just his second weekend in the series.
He was also the South Island Rookie of the Year and paired with Matt Dodd of Christchurch to take the South Island Teams title in the guise of YTG Racing.
Kitching only ran part of the North Island Championship but was highly competitive.
“When the car was going good, I proved we had the pace,” he said. “We had some technical and car issues at times, but that is all part of racing.”
Kitching entered the series almost twelve months ago as a 17-year-old, Year 12 student at Timaru Boys High School.
At the time, his father, Andrew, explained that the move to the series was to advance to the next level—the national level.
“The Nexen Tyre Mazda Racing Series run at higher profile meetings, and moving to the series is about continuing Will’s growth and exposure and providing more opportunities for the future,” he said at the time.
Asked if the series met those objectives, Will was unequivocal. “The national rounds were awesome with 30 cars and great racing. It was a good jump for my career going forward. I had not been exposed to the national level before and the television coverage it brought.”
Motorsport is very much a family affair for Kitching, who initially started his motorsport journey by watching and supporting his father, Andrew, and his mates. They competed in the early seasons of 2K Cup South Island before Kitching entered that series himself at the age of 13.
“My support crew is all family and friends on the tools,” he says.
Looking towards the future, Kitching confirms he will be back on the grid for the Nexen Tyre NZ Mazda Racing Series again next season, although, as with any driver, he is still working on finding more sponsorship to help him on his journey.
