Ronan Murphy is the latest driver announced to compete in the New Zealand Formula Ford Festival in Christchurch next month.
The 19-year-old will be driving a Ray GR20 prepared by South Island-based team Track Tec Racing.
Murphy is fresh out of his rookie Toyota 86 season, where he finished the season fifth in the standings.
“Going into the festival I am looking to maximise the opportunity I have been given and maximise the equipment I have under me to hopefully deliver a strong result for everyone involved,” Murphy said.
“There is going to be some incredibly tough competition especially from some of the NZ Formula Ford Championship competitors, but I look forward to giving it a red-hot crack with Track Tec Racing.”
His single-seater experience includes gigs in the New Zealand Formula First and Formula Ford championship and competing with Kiwi Motorsport in the USA Formula 4 championship.
“I competed in the 2019/2020 Formula Ford Championship, so I have a little bit of experience racing these cars, although I raced a different make of car to the Ray.
“Our 2019 season was filled with a lot of issues and bad luck, but it was a fast car and I expect it will be a bit of a challenge trying to adapt what I can remember from running the Spectrum to the Ray, but I really look forward to it.”
The Festival will be held at Ruapuna in Christchurch, a circuit Murphy says produces exciting racing.
“I love the layout of Ruapuna, and although it is quite technical, it has some really good passing opportunities, and has always provided top level racing so I look forward to seeing what a Formula Ford is like to race around there.”
Murphy will be partnered with 17-year-old Leo Scott for the Festival. Scott is making the step up to Formula Ford after two seasons in Formula First.
The Festival celebrates 50 years of Formula Ford racing in New Zealand. It is also the 40th anniversary of the South Island Formula Ford club.
The feature race winner will receive a Formula Ford drive at Brands Hatch in the UK later this year.
The New Zealand Formula Ford Festival is scheduled to be held on April 30 – May 1.
Images: TGRNZ