Tauranga racing driver Richie Stanaway has driven to victory on the streets of Monaco, taking his maiden victory in the GP2 single-seater category which is the main support series to Formula 1.
Stanaway's win is the biggest success for a Kiwi driver at Monaco since Denny Hulme's 1967 grand prix victory and follows up three GP2 podium finishes by Mitch Evans in 2012 and 2013.
Early yesterday, Stanaway, 23, led from start to finish in the GP2 sprint race, leading home Ferrari academy driver Raffaele Marciello (Italy). His win followed up a seventh place in Friday's GP2 feature race.
It feels quite surreal to win here in Monaco today and of all the places to win your first GP2 race, this has to be the best.
Stanaway had been a leading contender throughout the Monaco weekend but had damaged the front wing of his Status GP entry against a barrier during qualifying. He started 14th in the 40-lap feature race and made progress on the narrow and twisty Monaco track to finish seventh.