Chasing the Dream: My Journey in the New Zealand Formula First Championship
As a young racing driver, I’ve always dreamed of making it to the top of motorsport. And right now, the New Zealand Formula First Championship is giving me the chance to turn that dream into a reality.
The Formula First Championship isn’t just any racing series – it’s a legacy. It’s the same championship that launched the careers of some of New Zealand’s greatest motorsport stars, including Scott Dixon, Liam Lawson, and Shane van Gisbergen. These names might seem far off but knowing that they all started right where I am today makes me believe anything is possible.
Formula First has its roots in the Formula Vee series, which was introduced to New Zealand by Barry Munro in the late 1960s. Munro designed the first Formula Vee car using simple materials – his car’s nose cone was even made from a wool coat! The idea behind the series was straightforward: provide an affordable and competitive entry point into motorsport. That vision still holds true today.
In 1998, the series was rebranded as “Formula First,” making it clear that it was the starting point for young drivers looking to build a career in racing. For someone like me, that’s exactly what I’m looking for – a place to learn, improve, and race at a high level, all while keeping things affordable.
Growing up, I watched Kiwi drivers tearing it up on the world stage, and I’ve always wondered if I could be one of them. Now that I’m in the Formula First Championship, I can see how they got their start. They didn’t just show up at the top – they put in the work, starting in a series like this one.
The road ahead is long, but I know that being part of the Formula First Championship gives me the best shot at making it happen. With the right amount of hard work and determination, I believe I can follow in the footsteps of the legends who have come before me – and maybe, one day, race on the world stage just like them.
