Saucy: First podium in New Zealand 🎥

STRONG SECOND Already in the fourth race of the Toyota Racing Series in New Zealand, Grégoire Saucy managed a podium in Teretonga. As a result, the driver from Jura continues to lead the rookie standings. The highlights of race 1 in Teretonga show the great maneuver of the eventual winner in the first corner and how Grégoire Saucy subsequently defended his second place with all [...]

Editorial - January 28, 2020

The highlights of race 1 in Teretonga show the great maneuver of the eventual winner in the first corner and how Grégoire Saucy defended his second place with all his might afterwards.

The second event of the international Castrol Toyota Racing Series in New Zealand took place at Teretonga Park in Invercargill - on the world's southernmost race track with FIA homologation. As a sensational second in qualifying, Grégoire Saucy created an excellent starting position for the first of the three races on the fast 2.61-kilometer circuit.

First podium after Formula 4
The Jura native got off to a great start and seemed to snatch the lead from pole setter Igor Fraga from France in the first long turn. But Caio Collet, who started in fourth place, did even better, overtaking both on the outside.

As a result, the Colombian, who joined the Renault Sport Academy in 2019, took the lead ahead of the Swiss. Neither relinquished their positions, which meant the first podium for Saucy in this international championship. So far, he has only managed this in Formula 4.

Grégoire Saucy (left) stood on the podium for the first time in New Zealand. Next to him the winner Caio Collet and the third-placed Igor Fraga.

Still best rookie
Saucy had to start the second race, again over 20 laps completed in around 20 minutes at an average of over 170 km/h, in seventh place due to the reversed grid rule of the top 8. Instead of improving, he lost two positions in the turbulent race.

In the early morning time trial for the main race, Saucy set only the ninth fastest lap. Nevertheless, he made up three places in the course of the 25 laps, which earned him further good points.

Thus, after two of the five race weekends in the Antipodes, the Swiss improved from fourth to third place in the Intermediate ranking and is still the best rookie. Red Bull Junior Yuki Tsunoda, who won FIA Formula 3 with Jenzer Motorsport in 2019, is still behind him. The leader of the standings is last year's local champion Liam Lawson, who has also already excelled in FIA Formula 3.

Gregoire Saucy is getting to grips with the Formula 3 race car in the New Zealand series. Now the first victory is the next goal.

Gnos still paying an apprenticeship fee
The second Swiss finished the three races with the approximately 280 hp Tatuus-Toyota race car in 14th, 15th and 15th place.

With the eleventh-best time in qualifying, the youngest driver in the 19-strong field - at 16 years of age - conquered a promising position on the sixth row of the grid. Unfortunately, the Lausanne native, who lives in Spain, was unable to capitalize on this.

Memories of the world champion from New Zealand
The championship continues next weekend with the first of three events on New Zealand's North Island at Hampton Downs Motorsport Park in Waikato. The main race will be for the Denny Hulme Trophy, in memory of the 1967 New Zealand Formula One World Champion who died in 1992.