Motorsport: Estonian youngster in illustrious company

Martin Rump, at 17, has been one of the finds of the TRS. Picture / Geoff Ridder

Estonian driver Martin Rump is having his name etched on to one of New Zealand's top motorsport trophies. He joins Sterling Moss, Formula One champions Jack Brabham, John Surtees, Graham Hill, Keke Rosburg, Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon with his name permanently on the NZ Motor Cup.

Rump is the second Estonian to win the prestigious trophy. Fellow countryman Sten Pentus won the feature race three years ago and he's back in New Zealand for the Toyota Racing Series mentoring Rump in preparation for his season in Europe.

The 17-year-old Rump has been one of the finds of the TRS and it's due in no small way to Pentus' input and guidance. The 2010 TRS graduate realised how much value and experience racing in New Zealand during the European off-season was to him, and in his first race back in Europe, Pentus won.

"It was really, really good preparation for me when I was racing here," said Pentus. "It was more so than I thought when I was here because when I arrived back in Europe I only had 10 days before I tested and it went well straight away.

"And that's why we're here with Martin."

Pentus first came across Rump when he was coaching another karter at the same event in 2011. He then saw him again when Rump started racing in the Estonian Renault 1.6 team last year in Sweden.

"I was the coach for the Estonian team when Martin was racing in the northern championships and that's when I started to work directly with him," said Pentus.

"I realised he and his team wanted to head in the single-seater direction and I helped facilitate getting him a drive this year with the Fortec team in the Eurocup competition."

Once the deal was squared away to race in the Eurocup championship Pentus strongly suggested that to get the best preparation possible for Rump's upcoming season, he should head to New Zealand and compete in the Toyota Racing Series.

"This championship gives you a really good base and race training over the European winter. The Eurocup is such tough competition that Martin has to get every advantage he can so the decision was made and we started to get ready to come to New Zealand. We had to factor in his schooling as well as he's still in high school," said Pentus.

There are a number of youngsters racing here who also have to keep up with their homework and assignments between race weekends.

Pentus went on to say that Rump has the right mind-set to go racing and is a good listener.

He's also becoming mentally tough and bounces back from adversity quickly as evident last weekend by spinning out in race one and then winning the Motor Cup the next day.

The team's goal is not to win the championship but learn. Pentus wants his young charge to learn how to race and develop race craft and find as many weak points that can be rectified before they head back to Europe for the Eurocup season.

At the time of going to press, there are three drivers going on from the TRS to contest the Eurocup Formula Renault championship - Rump, Egor Orudzhev and Steijn Schothorst.