The allure of the New Zealand Grand Prix is strong motivation for many young drivers to be part of the grid. Over the years we have seen many one-off appearances hoping to have their name etched onto the trophy amongst many great names that have gone before them. Since the first Toyota Racing Series (TRS) in 2005, few have managed to accomplish this feat. One of those was the extraordinary appearance of a flying Dutchman, Laurens van Hoepen who won the 2023 NZ Grand Prix (NZGP) at Hampton Downs Motorsport Park.
Having missed the three previous rounds, Van Hoepen turned up on the 2023 NZGP grid with no prior racing experience in NZ but had come from a season competing in the 2023 Formula Regional European Championship for ART Grand Prix.
Initially the Dutchman qualified fastest for the opening race of the penultimate round, and this was put down to luck. Then qualifying fastest for the NZ Grand Prix, we knew that this kid was quick.
The five round Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Championship was already a competition between Kiwis Callum Hedge, Liam Sceats and James Penrose, Austrian Charlie Wurz (son of former F1 driver Alex Wurz) who went on to win the championship, Jacob Abel from the US and Louis Foster from the UK who missed the first two rounds. Also in the mix for the Grand Prix were Kiwi drivers Chris van der Drift and Kaleb Ngatoa.
Initially van Hoepen was overtaken at the first turn by Foster but regained the lead one lap later. He held on for the remaining 27 laps and re-lowered the track lap record in a Toyota FT-60 to 1m30.061 to win the NZ Grand Prix.
For those that turn up on the grid for a one-off appearance at the NZ Grand Prix on Sunday 9 February 2025 at Highlands Motorsport Park in Cromwell, this is the type of talent that is required and can set you about from all others. It is the type of talent also required for the Macau Grand Prix, which alongside the NZGP are the only two FIA recognised Grand Prix outside Formula One.
Macau is quite different to the NZ GP in that it is a one-off race, not part of a series. Hence, a winner, or even a podium placegetter, of the Macau Grand Prix is held in wide regard. Arvid Lindblad, who will be on the Toyota grid this season, is such a winner albeit in Formula 4.
Van Hoepen’s talent doesn’t seem to have been fully realised since winning the NZ Grand Prix. He went on to Formula Regional European Championship for the 2023 season finishing tenth overall with just two podiums and no race wins or pole positions. For 2024 he finished 13th in the FIA Formula 3 Championship with one pole and three podiums. He will again line up for the 2025 FIA F3 season
Comments