TKR pleased with 16 year olds debut in Adelaide

4 March 2012

TKR pleased with 16 year olds debut in Adelaide

Team Kiwi Racing driver Andre` Heimgartner has made an early name for himself after completing three races at the season’s opening City Index Carrera Cup Australia in Adelaide over the weekend, where he became the youngest driver to compete in the series.

Claiming two fourth places in the opening races, Auckland Year 12 high school student Heimgartner then took a taste of life down the field when he had to pit to change a flat tyre in the Sunday afternoon finale, finishing in 15th position.

“Andre` had an amazing start to what is a big step in competition,” says team boss David John of the young driver he’s entered in to the eight-round championship.

“He’s well and truly settled in to racing the brand new #21 all black TKR Porsche competitively – far in a way beyond what we’d realistically expect given the calibre of professional drivers in Australia.
“Certainly with the team members and funding we have our 12 year journey is set to continue for a lot longer.

“That has been one of the biggest changes in the team, where not only they are all New Zealand based, but all the best in what they do. We’ve seen the effects of how team dynamics can affect performance in the past and this weekend shows what a well oiled team is capable of.

“When we looked at running the Porsche I asked Craig Baird who we should get on board to run it. Without hesitation he said Todd Bickerton and Ian McNabb, who’d just finished up with multi-championship winning Triple X Motorsport.

“They were happy to join, and keep TKR true to its name, as a New Zealand based team who can take young talent to the international stage and do well. We proved that this weekend.

“The best thing is when you have the right crew involved it allows you to focus on the bigger picture and provide further opportunities for drivers like Andre` Heimgartner, as TKR has done for many drivers beforehand.”

Heimgartner said he’s still awed at his debut performance, despite the final race mishap:
“Even from the first time I drove the car on Thursday, I could have never imagined we’d do as well as this. To be so close to the lap record time set in the second race – everything about it has been a highlight.

“Of course the mistake I made in today’s race when I clipped the wall should be considered a low point, but the learning to race like that, making a mistake, having to do a pit stop, it was all an amazing experience.

“Now we’ve just got to keep punching out these results – and with the generosity of Team Kiwi, we’re in for the long haul.

Looking forward to the next round at the Melbourne Grand Prix 15-18 March, Heimgartner will return to school for the coming weeks before next racing the #21 TKR Porsche.

“The car is wonderful to drive, but has peculiarities I still need to come to grips with. Not driving anything between will be an advantage so I can get straight back in and carry on where I left off.

ENDS

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