Liam MacDonald is used to getting looked up and down when steps out of his racing car.
The surprise comes from the fact that behind those tinted windows, and underneath the racing helmet, is a fresh-faced 17-year-old.
With a background that amounted to nothing more than driving around his paddocks at home, MacDonald stepped into competitive racing at the age 15 in 2012 – before he even had his licence to drive on the road.
MacDonald’s age and ability meant officials had to make an exemption for him as under-18 drivers are not normally allowed to drive cars with engine capaacity bigger than 2.5 litres.
Last season the James Hargest College pupil took a big step in his motorsport development by lining up in three meetings in the NZV8 series. Not surprisingly he was the youngest to take part.
A victory at his home track of Teretonga rubber-stamped his talents and motorsport officials took notice.
The Invercargill driver was selected as just one of eight drivers nationally to be part of the MotorSport NZ Academy, which has helped in the development of drivers such as Mitch Evans and Hayden Paddon.
The academy is setup to turn drivers into professional athletes, including advice on nutrition, mental skills development, media training, and how to put together sponsorship proposals.
MotorSport NZ general manager Brian Budd said MacDonald was a driver they were keen to keep close tabs on.
”He’s a good little driver and he’s certainly got talent. He came into the V8s with a little bit of driving at club level but not a lot.
“So his first real attempt at serious racing was in V8s, which is pretty ballsy for a young guy to do. He’s got the potential to go a long way if he wants to stick with the sport,” Budd said.
MacDonald will juggle his school commitments this year with attending as many rounds of the NZV8 series as he can manage.
He will take on the 2014-15 series in a new car after he got a hold of one which Angus Fogg had previously used to win titles.
The first test in the new car will at the Southland Sports Car Club pre-season test day at Teretonga tomorrow.
The first meeting of the season at Teretonga will be on the weekend of September 20-21.
