Australian Ryder Quinn was at Highlands International Motorsport Park, in Cromwell, for the first round of the Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania championship.
The series, running over five weekends back to back starting in Cromwell today, would be run on all three of his grandfather Tony Quinn’s tracks.
Tony Quinn owns Highlands, in Cromwell, Hampton Downs, in the Waikato, and Taupo Motorsport Park, as well having his own racing career.
Ryder Quinn’s father Klark and uncle Kent both raced in Australia and New Zealand.
The family’s motorsport legacy sits lightly with Quinn.
An articulate and enthusiastic 17-year-old, who graduated from high school just months ago, he was aware of his family connections but unfazed by them.
"It goes beyond motorsport for me, it’s close to my heart. Being able to drive on my grandad’s tracks is absolutely amazing, it’s just awesome."
There was pressure from others for him to perform at the three tracks but Quinn did not feel that himself.
His father Klark won his third Australian GT title at Highlands and competing at the same track was pretty special, Quinn said.
Quinn did not remember his first visit to a race track as he was so young, but he did remember Highlands being developed.
"I’d go round on my quad bike and do laps when it was dirt and I’ve probably done more laps on a quad bike around this track than in a race car. There’s very fond memories at this track."
Red Bull junior driver Liam Lawson was at Highlands to coach Quinn.
Lawson said he was more of a performance than driving coach.
He spent around ten months a year overseas and being home in New Zealand, especially over the summer, was great.
Highlands was a special place, Lawson said.
"This track is my favourite place on the planet to drive.
"I had a really cool race here and after that I got my contract."
The track itself was really exciting and had a bit of everything, including some long high-speed corners with no margin for error, which made it exciting for a driver, he said.
While Lawson’s ultimate goal was to race Formula One, Quinn was drawn to Indycar in the United States and GT racing.
"We’ll see what happens," Quinn said.
His sole focus was on racing and he did not go out with friends like most 17-year-olds.
Despite his family connections there was a commercial relationship with racing sponsorship.
"If I’m not performing I don’t expect to have this opportunity."
Getting out on the track before a race was a thrill for Quinn.
"It’s just you, just the car, it’s the little things that make a difference."
