F1 Fanatic

I believe that New Zealand is one of those countries that deserve a place on Formula 1 map but are not there at the moment. There has never been a Formula 1 Grand Prix in NZ and there have been no Kiwi F1 drivers since 1984. Keith had an article on New Zealand as one of F1′s lost nations a couple of years ago.

So the question is: do you think it might change, let’s say, over the next 5 years? If yes, who could be the next Kiwi driver in F1? I guess Scott Dixon is the most famous motor racer representing NZ at the moment. However, I chose some youngsters who I believe could make it:

Brendon Hartley – age 21, lost Red Bull backing last year, currently 7th in 2011 Formula Renault 3.5 championship standings
Richie Stanaway – age 19, leading German F3 championship at the moment
Mitch Evans – age 17, backed by Mark Webber, currently 6th in 2011 GP3 championship standings

Also, is there any chance of New Zealand hosting an F1 Grand Prix in the next 5 or 10 years? If yes, where could the race take place? Taupo?

It would be great to read the opinions of New Zealand’s F1 fanatics, too.

Speaking as a NZ F1 fan, Mitch Evans is the best hope we have for a F1 driver due to his obvious skill and having access to a world class driver as a mentor always helps. And at one point he was leading the GP3 championship only to slip down the order due to being taken out in the past two races.

As for a race, I agree with PM, the only way we will get a race is if Australia gives theirs up and even then I reckon it would be in rotation with an Australian race, we simply don’t have the facilities to host an annual F1 race, however we have a new circuit being developed that is just off the motorway between Hamilton and Auckland called Hampton Downs, it has picked up a number of contracts for future races, and is likely to take over the V8 Supercars once the Hamilton contract expires, currently the track can’t take F1 (only being FIA Grade 2) but there are rumours of a Moto GP race there in the future.

http://www.hamptondowns.com/

But I really don’t think we could get a race here, we are simply to small a country to host such a large event, (our entire population of both islands is only a few hundred thousand above just Melbournes population) as for drivers, there are a number of up and coming drivers here and I wouldn’t be suprised to see at least one on the grid in the next 5 years.

Spain has two Grands Prix because of the popularity of the sport. America does not yet have two races, because the application for the Grand Prix in New Jersey is still to be submitted to Bernie. If New Zealand does not have a Grand Prix, it is because there is no support for an event. When was the last time a New Zealand Grand Prix was even rumoured?

Nz wont have a GP, the government would be burnt down for even thinking of spending money on a sport that isnt rugby! Nz is delusional about how many people watch rugby in nz, id say less than 15% would watch the all blacks play when a test is on

Hartley should get a seat, but Evans is my bet for the next man in F1.. New Zealand really embraces their motorsport, even from Grass-Roots level. The Karting Championships are all really well publicised and well presented, and the drivers just keep appearing..

I thought Australia was punching above its weight! but with a population just over the size of Melbourne’s, New Zealand is probably a world leader in churning out top class Racing Drivers..

The lesser known Tasman Series, Icthyes? :D That’s the very series that brought F1 to a small town half an hour from my house here in Tasmania. It finished so long ago that my dad was only a toddler and can barely remember it, but my grandfather often tells me stories of when he met all of the famous drivers. He’s always said Jim Clark was the nicest F1 driver he ever had the pleasure of speaking to.

I digress; continue thread. Icthyes will never mention the Tasman Series again. ;)

I think Mitch Evans is the most likely to be the next NZ driver. He’s got backing from Webber, and has shown some promising signs in GP3.

I think others such as Halliday and Reid have left their runs too late.

I think 2014 is very realistic as Evans will be 19 by the start of that season and he has already achieved a lot.

Jarred, what do you think is the reason why there are now quite many young New Zealanders in different high-class feeder series? I think there were not so many some years ago. Have Toyota Racing Series helped the matter? Or is it, as iamsa8 said, the general approach to motorsports that gives young and talented drivers good opportunities to grow?