Auckland schoolboy Mitch Evans had to fight all the way to
the final lap of the season to win the Toyota Racing Series
title at Taupo today.
Twice during the enthralling 10-lap final race the
15-year-old was forced out of the third place he needed to
become the youngest-ever winner of New Zealand's premier
single seater tile. He wins $10,000 in prizemoney and a
European test drive opportunity.
His arch rival, Earl Bamber of Wanganui, was leading the race
and on the verge of snatching the crown until near the end as
his teammate Stefan Webling held onto second place.
Bamber slowed down, closing up the leading bunch of five cars
to apply further pressure on Evans and the tactic worked
twice as Palmerston North's Sam MacNeill twice hustled ahead
of Evans.
The Auckland teenager eventually clung onto third place,
enough to claim the title by just three points even though
Bamber had won six of the series' 15 races. He won the last
four, including three this weekend and the recent New Zealand
Grand Prix at Manfeild.
The gap between the two was 34 points before this weekend and
they finished 1-2 in the two Taupo races leading up to this
afternoon's finale.
"It came close, but full credit to Mitch, such a young guy
and he held on without making any mistakes," Bamber, 19,
said.
"The race was a hard one to judge and I think he deserves the
credit of the title."
Final standings:
Mitch Evans (Auckland) 915pts 1, Earl Bamber (Wanganui) 912
2, Andrew Waite (Auckland) 762 3, Sten Pentrus (Estonia) 660
4, Daniel Jilesen (Taumarunui) 643 5, Alastair Wootten
(Auckland) 623 6, Stefan Webling (New Plymouth) 606 7
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