For a country with a population just shy of 5.3 million people, New Zealand has produced a disproportionate number of professional racers. Liam Lawson, of course, landed himself a permanent seat at Red Bull for next year, Shane Van Gisbergen is preparing for the NASCAR Cup series, and the Kiwi Scotts — Scott McLaughlin and Scott Dixon — remain dominant threats in IndyCar. All despite the fact that very little top-tier racing takes place in the country itself. Even if New Zealand has some of the “best tracks in the world,” according to Lawson.
The 22-year-old admitted he would do “whatever” it takes to see a Grand Prix on his home turf added to the F1 calendar. Though he knows it's not happening anytime soon. “The tracks would need to be upgraded a little bit to FIA standard,” he said in a recent interview. “So I would say it’s probably not [going to happen], but it’s something that I would be very hopeful for. Whatever I could do to make it happen, I would definitely do.”
New Zealand doesn't make many appearances in any global racing series, but Highlands Motorsports Park, Lawson's favorite course in the world — where he holds the track record — would be his dream addition to the calendar.
With multiple countries making bids to host an F1 race and expand the series' horizons, like Rwanda's official bid, F1's clearly looking to plant new flags. Though the fact that Highlands Motorsports Park is a five-hour drive from Christchurch, on New Zealand's far less populated South Island, doesn't help its chances. Even the defending champ is about to lose his home race.
At least Lawson can stay in touch with his fellow Kiwi racers. Shane van Gisbergen has been an early mentor to the Red Bull driver, who is 13 years his junior. “Obviously, I went the Touring Car route, and he went to chase the dream in Europe in single-seaters,” van Gisbergen recently told me. “The way he's gotten to F1 has been a little difficult the last couple of years. But seeing him get this opportunity full-time now, I'm just stoked and so proud."
