Two recent NZ Formula First rookie of the year winners are both making big steps in their motor racing careers. Conrad Clark and Liam Lawson are packing their bags and moving overseas to compete in the USA and German Formula 4 Championships respectively.
Clark, the current rookie of the year elect will finish off the current season of the NZ Formula First Championship before jetting over to America to complete testing prior to starting the USA F4 Championship with Kiwi Motorsport.
“It’s a mega opportunity and I just can’t wait to get in the car.” Said Clark
“It’s going to be a big jump going from a little Formula First to something with about 90 more horsepower than what I’m used to. It’s going to be a challenge, but hopefully, I’ll be able to adapt to it quick enough.”
Lawson, the top rookie of the 2015/16 season, has claimed the NZ Formula 1600 (Ford) championship and finished runner-up in the Australian Formula 4 since his time in NZ Formula First and has today announced he will compete in the German Formula 4 series this year.
“Ever since I was very young I’ve dreamed of racing in Europe and aiming to get to Formula One, so this is the very first step. It really is a dream come true,” said Lawson
“I just have to focus on the opportunity I have in front of me right now, make the most of it and hope that it then leads into the next step up the ladder,” he added.
Both drivers will get the opportunity to shine on the same stage as Formula One with both series supporting F1 over the year. Lawson will be the first to race on the world stage, competing at the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim in July, while Clark will compete at the tail end of the F1 Championship at Circuit of the Americas for the US Grand Prix in October.
Both Lawson and Clark are looking forward to racing at the same event as former Formula First driver and Kiwi F1 hero Brendon Hartley over their campaigns
“To be racing at Hockenheim on the same programme as Brendon is going to be exciting—two Kiwis racing at the German Grand Prix!” Said Lawson.
“Yeah its going to be so cool racing at the United States GP and even better to there with a Kiwi racing in Formula One!” Said Clark.
Both drivers join a large list of former NZ Formula First drivers to fly the Kiwi flag overseas including F1 driver and LeMans champion Brendon Hartley, 2016 Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen and IndyCar star Scott Dixon.