An exceptional season of motor racing in the south was capped off when several Southlanders were honoured at the Motorsport New Zealand Annual Awards at Te Papa in Wellington on Saturday evening.
A brilliant performance in the 2016 Toyota Racing Series by Brendon Leitch of Invercargill was acknowledged when he took one of the Premier Awards, the prestigious Steel Memorial Trophy for the New Zealand driver aged under 21 who displays dedication, skill and professionalism in their driving. The trophy carries the names of some of New Zealand’s top drivers from over the years and Leitch took the award after finishing third overall and first kiwi in the Toyota Racing Series. He was also awarded the Bruce McLaren Trophy for his achievement of being the top New Zealander in the series. Leitch was also a finalist for the Jim Clark Trophy along with 2015 FIA World Endurance Champion Brendon Hartley and 2015 Indycar Champion Scott Dixon. The trophy recognises the driver at national or higher level who exhibits a sportsmanlike attitude and natural ability in putting up the most meritorious racing performance of the season. The award went to Hartley.
Also recognised after success in the New Zealand Clubsport Championships earlier in the year were Cameron Morison of Invercargill who was awarded the New Zealand Clubsport Gold Star Championship while fellow Invercargill driver Liam MacDonald won the New Zealand Junior Clubsport Championship. Southland’s Inky Tulloch and driving partner John McIntyre of Nelson won the New Zealand 3 Hour Endurance Championship and Tulloch’s daughter, Rebecca, accepted the award on behalf of the pair. In her acceptance speech she reported that her father’s health has continued to improve since his recent crash at Teretonga and that he has recently been discharged from hospital. The crowd stood to honour a popular competitor as the award was made.
Another Southland Sports Car Club member, Jaxon Evans, who is based on the Gold Coast but raced in some South Island Formula Ford rounds this season, was selected for the Motorsport New Zealand Elite Academy.
Other Southlanders honoured on the night were Gore men, Wade Paterson, who received the Member d’Honneur, and David Kirk the Award Of Merit.
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