Photo: Formula Motorsport Ltd
Rodin Cars and MotorSport New Zealand have tied up to provide a prize to next year’s New Zealand Formula Ford champion.
The automotive manufacturer and national governing body of Kiwi motorsport will commit to providing “an all-expenses-paid, three-day testing and evaluation programme with Rodin Cars in New Zealand”, then should the driver impress then Rodin will offer them a testing programme with its racing team in England.
An “outstanding performance during this phase could secure the driver a seat in one of Rodin Motorsport’s Formula 4 teams in either the British or Spanish championships”. Other stars of the NZ FFord scene may also be evaluated by Rodin.
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“We’re in a great position to provide a clear pathway for talented young drivers from this side of the world,” said Rodin founder David Dicker. “Watching them grow and excel on the global stage reaffirms our company’s passion for driving and motorsport in general.”
MotorSport New Zealand president Deborah Day added: “We are incredibly proud to partner with Rodin Cars to offer this truly life-changing opportunity to our aspiring drivers. New Zealand has a remarkable history of producing world-class driving talent, and FFord has played a crucial role in that for over 50 years. The list of New Zealand’s FFord graduates who have excelled internationally is a testament to its success as a development formula.”
Rodin bought out the team formerly known as Carlin last year, and kept its racing programmes active in Formula 2, FIA Formula 3, GB3 and F4. It also has two Kiwi drivers it individually supports: Liam Lawson and Louis Sharp.
On the same day as Rodin announced its new talent programme, Lawson was confirmed as replacing Daniel Ricciardo at RB for the remainder of the 2024 Formula 1 season and Sharp was named as a finalist in the Silverstone Autosport BRDC Award.
The 22-year-old Lawson is returning to the team’s line-up after standing in for Ricciardo in five grands prix last year. He secored two points and came 20th in the standings, and was also Super Formula runner-up in 2023 with three wins.
In his junior single-seater career, Lawson won the NZ FFord title, was Australian F4 and ADAC F4 runner-up, Toyota Racing Series champion, Euroformula runner-up and then a race-winner in FIA F3 and F2.
With an impressive lineup headlined by Formula 1 driver Liam Lawson and reigning British Formula 4 Champion and GB3 Championship leader Louis Sharp, Rodin has quickly established itself as a force in world motorsport. Its teams compete in championships around the globe, including FIA Formula 3 and FIA Formula 2.
Sharp, 17, came fifth in New Zealand’s South Island FFord series and fourth in British F4 in 2022, then won the title in the latter series last year. For 2024 he stepped up to GB3, and looks set to wrap up that title this weekend.
The 2025 NZ FFord season starts next January, with races at Timaru, Highlands Motorsport Park, Manfeild and a to-be-announced venue for round four.