MEDIA RELEASE: Current SpeedSport Scholarship driver Liam Lawson had the chance to meet his motor racing hero when multiple IndyCar champion Scott Dixon returned home for the recent Leadfoot Festival.
The two have a lot in common – both were the same age when they started competing in the Formula First with some similarities being drawn about both drivers.
Lawson had just turned 13 years old when he started racing in New Zealand’s entry level single-seater category, as was Dixon, who 22 years later has established himself as one of the greatest IndyCar drivers of all time.
In his debut season Lawson has already notched up 4 podiums and a race win. Scholarship co-founder and driving coach Dennis Martin says the two drivers have similar driving traits.
“I remember Scott was very fast, very early on and that’s an indication of sheer talent. He had the ability to go fast right from the drop of the flag and Liam has proved to be similar.”
Dixon won the New Zealand Formula Vee title, now named Formula First in 1994.
While Lawson has not notched up the same string of race wins Dixon scored in his rookie season, Martin says that’s more to do with his qualifying position than his race-craft and speed.
“I think it’s fair to say the competition today is much tougher, and as a result the chance of a rookie driver ever matching Scott’s Formula First success would be much, much harder.
“Liam has also suffered from starting behind competitors who have been more of a road-block to him and that allows the two on the front row to bolt away at the start. But he still shows that same ability to go quickly from the start,” Martin added.
Lawson described his meeting with Dixon “as a bit overwhelming” but says he’s drawn great motivation from it to pursue his motor racing, in hope that he too can forge a professional career in the sport.
“It’s just awesome what Scott’s achieved for a Kiwi driver and I hope one-day that I might even get to race in the United States.
“He was so friendly, I’ll never forget the chance I had to meet him.”
Lawson is currently leading the Rookie of the Year standings of the New Zealand Formula First championship.
CALENDAR
Rnd 1: Manfeild 3-4 October
Rnd 2: Taupo 31 Oct/1 November
Rnd 3: Pukekohe 12-13 December
Rnd 4: Taupo 9-10 January 2016
Rnd 5: Hampton Downs 30-31 January
Rnd 6: Manfeild 13-14 February (NZGP meeting)
Rnd 7: Taupo 26-27 March
Rnd 8: Hampton Downs 23-24 April
PREVIOUS WINNERS
2001 Nic Jordan
2002 Joshua Hart
2003 Mark Russ
2004 Shane van Gisbergen
2005 Andrew Waite
2006 Alastair Wootten
2007 Richie Stanaway
2008 Aaron Hodgson
2009 Nick Cassidy
2010 Hayden Pedersen
2011 Malcolm Finch
2012 Aaron Marr
2013 James Webb
2014 Brook Reeve
2015 Liam Lawson
