Chip Ganassi Racing boost
Toyota Gazoo Racing New Zealand (TGRNZ) says confirmation of Toyota FR Oceania team Kiwi Motorsport as a partner for Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR) is big news for any driver looking for a pathway to success in US motorsport.
As an official partner team, Kiwi Motorsport will place drivers in competitive cars across motorsports with the goal of developing well-rounded skills.
A long-time participant in New Zealand’s premier single-seater championship, it has provided a stepping stone in the careers of drivers such as Brendon Hartley, Daniil Kvyat and Franco Colapinto, pictured above racing 2020.
Its annual New Zealand championship campaign, along with its American junior formulae programmes, will be included in the programme available to budding US drivers.
The team has also won five of the past six team championships in US Formula 4, and the 2019 and 2023 drivers’ championships. It has two team and drivers’ and championships in Formula Regional Americas from 2023-24.
Teena Larsen and Garry Orton, co-owners of Kiwi Motorsport, are delighted with the news. “We are thrilled to partner with CGR and be involved with the development programme,” they say.
“Kiwi Motorsport, like CGR, has been a dominant team in the series it competes in, running F4 in the US, and Formula Regional Series in the US, Macau and New Zealand. It is our team’s aim to help find the next IndyCar champion.”
Nicolas Caillol, TGRNZ’s manager of motorsport, says it provides an important pathway for up-and-coming Kiwis and other rising stars on the international scene.
He adds: “The Castrol Toyota FR Oceania Championship has a well-documented track record of success, producing multiple drivers who have competed and succeeded in F1.
“The pathway to IndyCar is fast developing. We’ve seen a number of talented drivers hoping to make a career at the top level of US motorsports competing in New Zealand in the early part of the year to sharpen their skills up for their US campaign. That will continue in 2025.
“Kiwi Motorsport is at the heart of this pathway and the team thoroughly deserves this partnership with one of the sport’s most successful teams. We can only see benefits for New Zealand and international drivers.”
Chip Ganassi has been a fixture in the racing industry for more than 35 years, and is considered one of the most successful and innovative owners. Today, his teams include three Hondas in the NTT IndyCar Series and two entries in Indy NXT by Firestone.
CGR has won 23 championships and more than 260 races, including five wins in the Indianapolis 500, eight 24 At Daytona victories, and wins in the 12 Hours of Sebring and 24 Hours of Le Mans.
