Mission Bay’s Robert Hill emerged from a line-up of 14 potential candidates for the 2015/2016 Castrol BMW Race Driver Series as the top scorer for the scholarship package.
A 51-year-old IT consultant, Hill has a long history with motor racing although has never contested a race series. Instead the lure of the supplied and race-ready BMW E30 2.0 car stoked his competitive steak. The top prize, the car and support package was awarded for use in the six-round race series – he just had to beat the rest of the candidates.
Those vying for the scholarship ranged in age from 14 to 54 years – illustrating the diversity of competitor motivated by the BMW brand. Pitted against each other during a test day at the north Waikato venue of Hampton Downs motor race circuit, they were scored on their physical ability (beep test), media and panel interview prowess as well as their driving skill.
Accounting for 50% of the judged result, factory BMW driver trainer Mike Eady took each candidate through a series of car control tests around the race circuit.
By mid-afternoon the judging panel awarded the title to Hill – and handed the keys to the car by outgoing scholarship recipient Tom Grooten. The scholarship includes a tyre, brake and lubricant package – along with a race engineer and payment of registration fees for the race season.
“Excited, thrilled – very pleased,” said Hill at being announced the winner. “To have the chance to race in the series is something I have worked toward slowly for the past 20 years. Having done driver training and race schools at Donnington and Brands Hatch in the UK left me with the bug to compete, although I couldn’t afford to run car. This is an opportunity to race and put all that training to good use.
“Now I get to realise the dream and is a unique opportunity for someone if you’re not a young up-comer. The scholarship means I can afford to race, to compete against others.”
Hill is now focussed on the first event of his career, at Hampton Downs this coming weekend (12-13 September).
“The goal is to get the rookie of the year title – just as my predecessor Tom (Grooten) did last season. First is to learn the racing and to be as competitive as I can given it is my first time when I am up against others with five to six years’ experience.”
While Hill will contest the most popular of three competition categories there are classes for BMW Open (A+B) and BMW 2L cars. Entries often exceed 70 cars for a weekend.
Contested over six rounds – the North Island only series starts at Waikato’s Hampton Downs 12-13 September. It heads to Manawatu’s Manfeild circuit 14-16 November, Taupo 16-17 January, Hampton Downs 30-31 January, Pukekohe 20-21 February with the season finale at Hampton Downs 2-3 April 2016.
Supporters of the series and scholarship car include BMW New Zealand, Castrol, Toyo tyres, Koni shocks/King Springs, Stocks, P and S Autocentre, Tracktime and Classic Car Cover.
The 2015/2016 BMW Race Driver Series will be made up of the following rounds (some categories will appear at different race meetings):
BMW Open Groups A and B
Round Event Location Dates
1 Icebreaker Hampton Downs 12-13 September 2015.
2 MG Classic Manfeild Manfeild 14-16 November 2015.
3 Taupo Car Club Taupo 16-17 January 2016.
4 Toyota Racing Series Hampton Downs 30-31 January 2016.
5 Toyota Racing Series Taupo 6-7 February 2016.
6 Legends of Speed Hampton Downs 2-3 April 2016.
7 Tier 1 Summer Series Pukekohe 16-17 April 2016.
BMW E30 / BMW 2.0 Litre Open Classes.
Round Event Location Dates
1 Icebreaker Hampton Downs 12-13 September 2015.
2 MG Classic Manfeild Manfeild 14-16 November 2015.
3 Taupo Car Club Taupo 16-17 January 2016.
4 Toyota Racing Series Hampton Downs 30-31 January 2016.
5 HRC Tasman Revival Pukekohe 20-21 February 2016.
6 Legends of Speed Hampton Downs 2-3 April 2016.
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