Five weeks out from the start of the 2017 Toyota Racing Series, Invercargill driver Brendon Leitch has the luxury of knowing he will be on the start line along with many of the up and coming stars of world motorsport when the series gets underway in Christchurch over the weekend of 14/15 January.
“Thanks to the support of long time sponsor ITM I have a full budget for the first time ever and I am ready to rock,” said Leitch today. Leitch will again drive for the Nelson based Victory Motor Racing Team. “I will be working Garry (Orton) and Guy (Griffiths) again and I will have some great team mates. I will have the same engineer as last year as well.”
This will be the Southlander’s fourth tilt at the series but the first time he has had the knowledge weeks ahead of the season that he has a full budget to go head to head with the international stars that come to New Zealand to compete. Last year Leitch only confirmed his entry into the series a week out from the first round. “It makes it pretty tough. I am very lucky to have the backing of ITM,” he says.
While the internationaI drivers will arrive race hardened from various series around the world, once again this year Leitch will have little mileage prior to going head to head with the global contingent. However he did have some testing with the high profile Newman Wachs Racing Team at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in October which was good practice.
Despite limited resources and opportunities Leitch has fashioned a stunning record in New Zealand motor racing. After finishing in the top three of the New Zealand Formula Ford Championship two years in succession he moved into the Toyota Racing Series three seasons ago. With minimal preparation each year he has won two races in the series – one in the 2015 season and one in 2016 – and has stood on the podium several times. Last season he finished third overall in the series points, was the top kiwi in the series and the only New Zealander to win a race.
