New Zealand: Saucy close to first win
SECOND AGAIN On the third weekend of the Toyota Racing Series in New Zealand, Grégoire Saucy finished a brilliant second in the main race. Axel Gnos suffered several accidents. The third round of the Castrol Toyota Racing Series in New Zealand took place at Hampton Downs Motorsport Park north of Waikato with three more races. On the modern, [...]
The third round of the Castrol Toyota Racing Series in New Zealand took place at Hampton Downs Motorsport Park north of Waikato with three more races. On the modern, 2.7-kilometer short race track to FIA standard, Grégoire Saucy had to settle for ninth and eighth place in the first two heats over 20 laps each. Not much more was to be expected after tenth place on the grid without incident in front of him.
A good Sunday for the Jurassic
In the second qualifying session, in which the grid positions for the main race were determined before the second run, the Jurassic was then wide awake early on Sunday morning - he managed the third fastest time.
After the start, the rookie from Bassecourt even moved up to second position, but New Zealand championship leader Liam Lawson took it from him. When the latter retired due to a technical defect on his 280 hp Tatuus Toyota, the Swiss took over second place again.
Due to two caution periods and an interruption after a third accident, the race dragged on for 25 laps. Finally, there was a sprint over three laps in which Saucy successfully defended second place. Only twelve of the 18 drivers finished.
Saucy remains third in table and first rookie
Victory went to 21-year-old Brazilian Igor Fraga, who received the Denis Hulme Memorial Trophy for his efforts. This commemorated the victory of the only Formula 1 World Champion from New Zealand in the 1974 Argentine GP.
After three of the five events and nine of 15 races, Saucy remains third in the standings as the best rookie. With a win in the first heat, fourth in the second and another success in the main race, Fraga has taken over the top spot in the standings from local hero Lawson.
There have been six different race winners so far. The 16-year-old Argentine Franco Colapinto won the second race for the first time. Last year's Formula 4 champion in Spain is sponsored by Fernando Alonso and has now joined the Frenchman in the Championship table quite close.
Bad luck for Axel Gnos
The second Swiss rookie Axel Gnos had an eventful weekend. The 16-year-old from Lausanne overturned in free practice, but fortunately without any major consequences.
The youngster finished the first heat in 15th place. In the second heat he was hit by a subsequently penalized competitor, who at least only sent him to the sand bed in the same place.
The third race also ended prematurely for Gnos after a collision on a restart. His accident in race 2 can be seen in the following video:
Blow by blow
The international racing series continues next weekend in Pukekohe, where the New Zealand Motor Cup beckons to the winner in the main race. It then comes to an end on February 15/16 with the New Zealand Grand Prix at the Chris Amon Manfeild Circuit in Feilding.
Race 1 results Race 2 results Race 3 results
toyota.co.nz/toyota-racing/castrol-toyota-racing-series
