Canadian driver Lance Stroll has become the youngest driver to clinch the Lady Wigram trophy after a brilliant start to the Toyota Racing Series at the Mike Pero Motorsport at Ruapuna.
The 16-year-old winner of last year’s Italian Formula 4 title, won the incident-filled 20-lap race to secure one of New Zealand’s most coveted motor racing trophies.
Arjun Maini was second ahead of GP2 driver Artem Markelov with Santino Ferrucci claiming fourth.
Polesitter Sam Macleod, one of many who spun out of the race in dramatic dusty incidents, fought back to be fifth overall and set fastest lap of the race in 1:18.236.
The first New Zealand driver was again Brendon Leitch, who finished ninth and three places ahead of a bitterly disappointed James Munro.
Stroll had become the first winner of the new era for the FT50 chassis, claiming the 15-lap Saturday race from Austrian Stefan Riener with Indian driver Arjun Maini holding out Australia’s Thomas Randle for third.
Randle was responsible for a storming drive in the Sunday feature, coming from 17th to claim sixth after he had to take to the grass to avoid an incident on the opening lap.
Brandon Maisano had earlier won Race 2 from Charlie Eastwood with Ferdinand Habsburg holding Stroll out of third.
The 2015 Toyota Racing Series now heads for Teretonga Park circuit near Invercargill for round two next weekend.
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