Rising talent Leitch confirms step-up

Damon Leitch's bourgeoning motorsport career has reached another lofty height, with the young Invercargill driver confirming he will be competing in the Toyota Racing Series next season.

Leitch, 17, has been racing in the Formula Fords for the past three seasons, but will progress up the ranks to the challenging Toyota Racing Series in 2011.

Many well-known New Zealand drivers such as Formula One hopeful Brendon Hartley, Daniel Gaunt, Shane van Gisbergen and Andy Knight have cut their teeth in the class since it was created in 2005. Current Toyota Racing Series drivers include prodigious Kiwi talents Mitch Evans and Earl Bamber. Leitch said he was delighted to be making the step up and believed competing against some of the best young drivers from New Zealand and around the world would be extremely beneficial for his career.

"I'm very excited. There's a lot of good drivers. It's been my goal since the start of the year, so it's great to be finally confirmed."

This weekend, Leitch is participating in the final round of the Formula Ford Series in Taupo – where he lies fifth on the leaderboard.

He had his first drive in a Toyota Racing Series car – which is New Zealand's premier single- seater category – during a practice session at Taupo yesterday and said it was a new experience. "It's a lot different. Compared to Formula Fords, they're a lot faster," he said.

Leitch made a promising start to this year's Formula Ford Championship – leading the series after the first two rounds. Disaster struck in round three on his home circuit at Teretonga, though, when he crashed in his first two races and was then hit with a drive-through penalty in the third and final race of the round. From there, his championship dreams went downhill, after struggling in the fourth round at Timaru and then having engine problems at the last round at Manfeild, near Palmerston North.

Leitch is out of contention for the Formula Ford title – sitting more than 200 points behind leader Martin Short, of Hamilton, but could salvage some pride and finish as high as third in the standings with some strong results at Taupo this weekend.

The young Southlander was disappointed with the way things had panned out after his excellent start to the season, but said that was the nature of motorsport.

With the excitement of the Toyota Racing Series to look forward to next season, though, it does not seem like Leitch will be reflecting on the disappointment of what might have been for too long.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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