• Latest
  • Trending

USF Pro 2000 test for Sceats following Grand Prix victory

February 22, 2024

Michelin Tyres for the New Zealand Porsche Championship

August 18, 2025

Chris White confirms highly anticipated 2025–26 Toyota GR86 campaign

August 18, 2025

SVG’s oval growth continues as he battles from P27 to P14, matching his best oval finish in the Cup Series

August 18, 2025

SS Cup celebrates 10 years since its revival — A decade of grassroots motorsport thrills

August 15, 2025
2025 - Repco Supercars Championship - QR

Hodson shows pace but battles through in tough Super2 Ipswich weekend

August 15, 2025

Bryn Jones secures first International Rally drive with PT Racing in Portugal

August 15, 2025

Wolfbrook Foundation opens 2025/26 Toyota GR86 Scholarship

August 15, 2025

Motorsport Diary: Kiwis racing overseas this weekend

August 15, 2025

Douglas ends season with podium, Manson scores top five in Portland USF Pro 2000 finale

August 14, 2025
2025 NEXTGEN, ROUND 2, TAUPO, NEW ZEALAND.
WORLD COPYRIGHT: TAYLER BURKE
_SAT6446.CR3

Tim Miles Memorial Trophy added to key New Zealand Formula Atlantic event

August 14, 2025

North Island Rally Series contenders ready to tackle the Dayle ITM Gold Rush Rally of Coromandel

August 14, 2025
Monday, August 18, 2025
VelocityNews
Be the first to know and subscribe for real-time updates on Kiwi drivers, events and much more!
Subscribe to New Alerts
  • International
    • Formula 1
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • Formula E
    • Esports
    • Super GT
    • Super Formula
    • TCR
    • WEC
    • GT
    • Porsche Carrera Cup
    • BTCC
    • DTM
    • IMSA
    • IndyCar
    • Road to Indy
    • NASCAR
    • WRC
    • MotoGP
    • Motorcycle Racing
    • Historic Racing
  • New Zealand
    • Toyota Formula Regional
    • Toyota GR86 Championship
    • Rally
    • Speedway
    • Drifting
    • Formula Ford
    • Formula First
    • TCR NZ
    • TransTasman V8 Series
    • V8 Utes
    • GT New Zealand Championship
    • GTRNZ
    • Central Muscle Cars
    • Pirelli Porsche
    • Mazda Racing Series
    • NZ Endurance Championship
    • NIERDC
    • SIERDC
    • Pro8 South Island Series
    • SsangYong Utes
    • Kartsport
    • NZ Historic Racing
    • NZ General
  • Australia
    • Supercars
    • Super2
    • Australian V8 Touring Car Series
    • Porsche Carrera Cup Australia
    • Porsche Sprint Challenge
    • S5000
    • Australian GT
    • TCR AU
  • Features
    • Features
    • Opinion
    • Profile
    • Race Cars
  • Circuit News
  • Velocity TV
  • Performance Cars
  • Jobs
    • Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Job Dashboard
No Result
View All Result
VelocityNews
No Result
View All Result

USF Pro 2000 test for Sceats following Grand Prix victory

by Matthew Sampson
February 22, 2024
in Toyota Formula Regional
0

New Zealand Grand Prix winner Liam Sceats is already back to work, jetting out to the United States just days after he won the 68th running of the famed race for a USF Pro 2000 test at New Orleans Motorsport Park.

Sceats rejoins TJ Speed Motorsports for the outing, having previously tested with the same outfit at Indianapolis in October 2023, completing five sessions and finishing as high as fourth on his final run.

“It feels good to know that I have an opportunity to test overseas next week,” he said. “This brings me one step closer to my ultimate goal: contesting a full championship overseas.

“I’ll be working hard on raising further sponsorship and looking for new prospects that could help make the goal of competing in the Road to Indy program a reality.”

The Auckland-based driver finished the 2024 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Championship as runner-up but won three of the last four races, including the Grand Prix, to end the season on a high.

Whilst he admits he’s disappointed not to feature at the top of the standings, clinching the season-ending race at Highlands Motorsport Park was definitely a highlight.

“Over the last few days, I’ve been able to look back and soak in what was an unforgettable weekend,” he said.

“Being able to sit down after the race with the NZ Motor Cup and look through and see all the great names like Bruce McLaren and Jackie Stewart was cool, but what was more important to me were names like Lando Norris, Nick Cassidy, and SVG in recent years, which made it very surreal that my name was going to be apart of the historic trophy, too. 

“My goal heading into this season was to win the championship and the New Zealand Grand Prix. It’s disappointing that we couldn’t achieve the ultimate goal, but it still feels like a successful campaign as we came away with the 68th New Zealand Grand Prix.”

Sceats with the NZ Motor Cup. Image: Supplied

Sceats finished second overall in the championship, 44 points behind teammate Roman Bilinski, who secured honours with one race to run.

A qualifying crash put Bilinski on the back foot for the Grand Prix, with Sceats taking the upper hand for the race by qualifying on pole.

His closest competition come race time came from the front row, with fellow Tony Quinn Foundation-backed driver and 2023 runner-up Callum Hedge, a late addition to the field, qualifying second.

The race for Sceats was won off the start, with Hedge forced to hold off a charge from South Korea’s Michael Shin, which allowed the M2 Competition driver to pull clear for a comfortable win.

“Congratulations to Callum for a Tony Quinn Foundation one-two,” he said. “It couldn’t have been more perfect for them, as it was the first New Zealand Grand Prix ever hosted at Highlands Motorsport Park.

“I’m happy that I was able to help make this a reality for Tony and the trustees. 

“A massive thank you to the Tony Quinn Foundation, who supported the #23 entry, and my Canadian engineer Dylan, James, Jacob and Daniel. I’d also like to mention Jonathon, Pilch, Elise and the rest of the amazing people from the M2 Competition for their hard work for the entire five weeks.”

Sceats and his M2 Competition team with the New Zealand Motor Cup. Image: Supplied

Sceats has completed two full seasons of the Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Championship, finishing fourth in 2023 and runner-up in 2024. In 30 starts, he has 11 podiums, including three race wins.

While big things await the 18-year-old, he admits a future return is not outside the realm of possibility.

“A big thank you to Toyota Gazoo Racing New Zealand for their generous support towards Kiwi drivers like myself and for putting a championship that is so beneficial for my development on and off the race track,” he added.

“I’d love another five weeks because I’ve loved every moment of racing in this championship, and I would be lying if I said it because of the recent winning momentum we had behind us.

“I look forward to returning to the championship in the future.”

Tags: Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania ChampionshipLiam SceatsM2 CompetitionSuper Sprint MotorSport New Zealand ChampionshipTony Quinn FoundationUSF Pro 2000

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact Us

© 2022 VelocityNews - Independent New Zealand and International Motorsport news.

No Result
View All Result
  • International
    • Formula 1
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • Formula E
    • Esports
    • Super GT
    • Super Formula
    • TCR
    • WEC
    • GT
    • Porsche Carrera Cup
    • BTCC
    • DTM
    • IMSA
    • IndyCar
    • Road to Indy
    • NASCAR
    • WRC
    • MotoGP
    • Motorcycle Racing
    • Historic Racing
  • New Zealand
    • Toyota Formula Regional
    • Toyota GR86 Championship
    • Rally
    • Speedway
    • Drifting
    • Formula Ford
    • Formula First
    • TCR NZ
    • TransTasman V8 Series
    • V8 Utes
    • GT New Zealand Championship
    • GTRNZ
    • Central Muscle Cars
    • Pirelli Porsche
    • Mazda Racing Series
    • NZ Endurance Championship
    • NIERDC
    • SIERDC
    • Pro8 South Island Series
    • SsangYong Utes
    • Kartsport
    • NZ Historic Racing
    • NZ General
  • Australia
    • Supercars
    • Super2
    • Australian V8 Touring Car Series
    • Porsche Carrera Cup Australia
    • Porsche Sprint Challenge
    • S5000
    • Australian GT
    • TCR AU
  • Features
    • Features
    • Opinion
    • Profile
    • Race Cars
  • Circuit News
  • Velocity TV
  • Performance Cars
  • Jobs
    • Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Job Dashboard

© 2022 VelocityNews - Independent New Zealand and International Motorsport news.