Eric Thompson: The best of New Zealand motorsport in 2020

Scott Dixon. Photo / Photosport

Despite a season smashed by Covid, New Zealand motorsport survived rather well.

Kiwis had a strong year, on two and four wheels, one of the most notable being Courtney Duncan winning her second world motocross title.

Duncan really should have won four or five titles by now, having been robbed in her first three attempts. Her sheer perseverance and single-mindedness should be an example to anyone playing in the international sporting arena to never to give up.

Courtney Duncan. Photo / Photosport

This year Scott Dixon cemented himself as one of the world's best open-wheel racers, winning his sixth IndyCar championship. What makes Dixon so special is his consistency. In the 16 seasons he's raced IndyCar, the Kiwi has won at least one race and finished inside the top six in the championship every year.

"Six is good. Seven sounds better. That's obviously going to be the goal. But it's tough, as you can see from the competition, even if you mess up just a little bit," he said.

Dixon is considered the best of his generation and ranks third on IndyCar's all-time wins list with 50 wins, sitting behind A.J. Foyt — the series' only seven-time winner — and Mario Andretti.

Across the ditch, Scott McLaughlin became a three-time Supercars champion and promptly decided it was time to fulfil his American racing dream. He is now settling into learning about IndyCar racing.

Fellow Kiwi and 2016 Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen finished third in the series this year and more importantly finally managed to get his first Bathurst win after finishing second a few times. He turned his hand to rallying for the first time in a one-off event and surprised most people by winning his class and then an outright win in a special stage blast.

Earl Bamber continued to win the odd race in various countries and even managed to tick off a long-held wish by racing for Richard Childress at Nascar's Daytona round, finishing 33rd after a big crash. Bamber impressed many by climbing to second at one stage during the race.

Bamber didn't make the cut to remain a Porsche factory driver for 2021 but his Earl Bamber Motorsport team will contest the Porsche Carrera Cup Australia and the American IMSA series as a Porsche customer entry in partnership with Team Hardpoint.

Former Japanese Super GT and Super Formula champion Nick Cassidy is spreading his wings and will race in the Formula E series for Envision Virgin Racing. In pre-season testing, Cassidy showed he'll be a threat next year by setting a lap record during rookie testing earlier this year at Marrakesh.

Long-term Formula E racer Mitch Evans at one stage this year was in contention to win his first title but fell away at the end of the season. His brother Simon, on the other hand, had a great year in the Jaguar I-Pace eTrophy series by winning the title.

Two of New Zealand's younger prospects, Liam Lawson and Marcus Armstrong, had strong showings in their GP3 and GP2 championships with Lawson finishing fifth with a couple of race wins. Armstrong's season started well but fell apart mid-season to finish 13th with a couple of podium finishes.