Quinn set to back rising talent

Identifying, supporting and sponsoring the next generation of talented young New Zealand drivers is the goal of the new Tony Quinn Foundation.

The foundation boasts a wealth of well-connected motorsport industry players including Tony Quinn, Steve Horne, Greg Murphy, John Gordon, and Josie Spillane.

“We've brought together a dream team that can add real value to the process,’’ Quinn, owner of Highlands Motorsport Park in Cromwell, said in a statement.

‘‘One of the first people I spoke to about the foundation was Steve Horne, who has had a long and distinguished motorsport career all over the world.

‘‘He’s got the kind of contacts in the sport that money can't buy.”

Horne, who has spent much of his career in the US, helped Bobby Rahal win the Indianapolis 500 in 1986 while he also has two CART championships and five Indy Lights titles to his credit.

“My motorsport career started in New Zealand in the 60s and I always felt if there was an opportunity for me to give back to the sport in a positive way, I'd like to do it,’’ Horne said.

“New Zealand motorsport has a rich heritage dating back to Bruce McLaren who won the ‘Driver to Europe’ scholarship in 1958 right through to today’s stars including Scott Dixon, Scott McLaughlin, Liam Lawson, Brendon Hartley and Mitch Evans.’’

“The basics are still the same no matter where in the world you come from; you've got to be able to drive fast.

‘‘The guys that make it to the top do so not because they're Kiwis but because they work hard and they have a plan and the discipline to follow through on that plan.”

Gordon is currently working with one of New Zealand’s most exciting young talents, Liam Lawson, who came to see him four years ago with the ambition of getting to Formula 1.

Gordon, who will provide legal and contractual advice to the foundation, helped put a plan together for Lawson and his parents and he says Lawson has the characteristics the foundation will be looking for in the drivers they support.

“Liam is blessed with an incredible talent but he's also got a golden personality,’’ Gordon said.

‘‘He's got a huge smile and he's wonderful around supporters and sponsors.

‘‘What will make Liam, and any driver we support through the foundation, successful is their ability to work harder than anyone else. Liam works incredibly hard on his fitness and he’s incredibly disciplined in everything he does. They’re the kind of qualities we’ll be looking for in the drivers we work with.”

Finding the next Lawson, Dixon or McLaughlin is the goal.

However, Quinn has word of warning to any young drivers excited about the prospect of getting financial support for their racing dreams.

“This is not about throwing a lump of cash at a young driver and saying: ‘Here you go. Have at it,’ Quinn said.

“It's as much, or more about drawing on the experience and contacts of the trustees in the foundation.”

“It won’t be a holiday. It will be more like boot camp.

‘‘And we’ll be honest with the kids and their parents because the parents will still have to invest their hard-earned cash.

‘‘If we don’t think they have what it takes we’ll advise parents not to waste too much money and to treat the sport as a hobby instead of trying to make a career out of it.

‘‘But for the kids who do have the talent and the determination to make it, we'll do everything we can to help them.”

This year the foundation is committing more than $200,000 to scholarships and categories for emerging talent and will also consider further support for any New Zealander who finishes in the top three in Toyota Gazoo Racing’s two championships — the Castrol Toyota Racing Series and Toyota 86 Championship — with dollar for dollar funding towards their next campaign.

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