Take One Aussie and One Kiwi…
By Ian Lockwood
March 26 2010
Australia’s two times Formula One Grand Prix winner Mark Webber, has announced that he is lending his support to up-and-coming Kiwi racing sensation, 15-year old Mitchell Evans.
The Red Bull Racing driver has taken on a mentoring role as Evans – who turns 16 in June – prepares to make the transition to international competition and racing against the very best youngsters in Europe in 2011.
The young New Zealander has already made the best possible start to his 2010 campaign. Last month he wrapped up the International Toyota Racing Series on home soil, winning three races and finishing on the podium no fewer than seven times, while three weeks ago he kicked off his Australian F3 Championship campaign with Team BRM and scored three wins from three starts at the opening round at Wakefield Park, near Goulburn, New South Wales.
After a successful karting career, Mitch graduated to car racing at the tender age of 14 and finished runner up in both the Australian and New Zealand Formula Ford championships in 2008/2009 and 2009 respectively, breaking many records on the way and became the youngest ever winner of a national Australian race and round. He stepped up to Formula 3 last November when he contested the final round at Sandown, finishing on the podium in the sprint race and then going on to win the Superprix feature race which included seven internationals. In the process, Evans became the youngest ever driver to win an Australian Formula Three and Gold Star race.
Webber said, “I met Mitch for the first time at last year’s Australian Grand Prix and was amazed at how switched on he was at the age of just fourteen. When I was at that age, I was only karting and was barely thinking about Formula One – it shows how much things have changed over the years.
“At this very early stage he is displaying all the right ingredients and characteristics to be successful at the highest level and he has some great people behind him who I’m certain will do everything to ensure he fulfils his dream. It’s really important that he chooses his next steps carefully and I’m looking forward to playing my part by using my own personal experiences and contacts to make the move as seamless as possible, and helping his development on and off the track.
“Although Mitch will concentrate his efforts on Australia F3 this season, we will be taking him across to Europe during the year so he can begin to see the bigger picture stuff and weigh up his options for next year when he’ll be competing there. We will choose whatever we believe is the best category for him.”
Source: Markwebber.com
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Quote:duest
Another kiwi we will need to claim as our own! I trust Mark's help is on the condition Mitchell will become a naturalised Australian before his F1 debut!
Perhaps we can make it conditional on his success - he can stay a Kiwi if he's a dud!!
Quote:SydneyF1Fan
Perhaps we can make it conditional on his success - he can stay a Kiwi if he's a dud!!
Yeah. Good point!!