Liam Lawson wins first 2019 Toyota Racing Series race

Photo: Bruce Jenkins

ADAC Formula 4 runner-up and Asian Formula 3 race-winner Liam Lawson opened the 2019 Toyota Racing Series at Highlands Motorsport Park with victory.

The New Zealander started the race from second behind Asian F3 champion Raoul Hyman, after Ferrari junior Marcus Armstrong was docked three places for setting his pole lap under yellow flags.

Lawson won the start-line battle for the lead, and didn’t take long to establish himself at the front. Hyman followed with a fast-starting Armstrong on his tail, and spent the first few laps holding the Ferrari junior off.

Single-seater returnee and Red Bull junior Lucas Auer overtook French F4 graduate Esteban Muth for fourth, and eventually joined Armstrong in attacking Hyman. It took them 12 laps before they made it past, by which point Lawson’s win was all but assured.

They ran in that order to the flag, with Brendon Leitch completing the top five behind Hyman. Muth was sixth, ahead of Petr Ptacek, Kazuto Kotaka, Cameron Das and Artem Petrov.

F3 regulars Calan Williams and Petru Florescu were 11th and 12th, with Parker Locke, Dev Gore and Thomas Smith meaning all 15 starters finished the race.

Race results (15 laps)