Young Kiwis follow in Scott Dixon's footsteps

Young Kiwi drivers are racing to follow in the footsteps of champion Indy car driver and fellow New Zealander Scott Dixon. Photo / AP

Young Kiwi single-seat racing drivers are racing to follow in the footsteps of champion Indy car driver and fellow New Zealander Scott Dixon.

The winner of this season's New Zealand Formula Ford Championship (NZFFC) championship also wins the chance to attend an international "shoot-out" to determine who wins a US$200,000 fully supported drive in the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship in 2017.

Dixon, along with current IndyCar drivers Helio Castroneves, James Hinchcliffe, Tony Kanaan, Charlie Kimball and Josef Newgarden, are all graduates of series that comprises the Mazda Road to Indy - one of the most successful driver development programs in the world, providing a unique, scholarship-funded path to reach the Verizon IndyCar Series and Indianapolis 500.

Now in its sixth year, the Mazda Road to Indy offers three key steps for drivers.

Drivers begin the Mazda Road to Indy in the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda. This entry-level single seater series is comparable to New Zealand's Formula Ford car but with a more powerful 2.0 litre engine and front and rear wing.

From there, drivers move on to the Pro Mazda Championship, formerly known as the Star Mazda Championship. It could be compared in New Zealand with the Toyota Racing Series but with a more powerful 260 horsepower rotary engine.

The third step is the Indy Lights. Indy Lights is regarded as a step below the Verizon IndyCar Series. Run at the same meetings, the powerful 450 horsepower engines are coupled to an Indy car-style chassis manufactured by Dallara Automobili, complete with paddle shifters, push-to-pass and safety components meeting INDYCAR and FIA standards.

Dixon won this series back in 2000, with Kiwi Wade Cunningham also winning in 2005.

"We're very excited about this opportunity for Formula Ford drivers in New Zealand," said Steve Edwards, convener for the NZFFC.

"Single seater racing at this level is so important for young drivers looking for a motorsport career.

"It's a natural progression from kartsport, and now the Mazda Road to Indy opens a door to an under 25 year old Kiwi driver to not just further their career in the States, but also give them great international exposure and a snapshot of racing in America."

The programme is fully supported by Motorsport New Zealand (MSNZ).

Brian Budd, MSNZ manager, sees the programme as a way of continuing to provide New Zealand drivers with career opportunities that include international competition.

The six-round New Zealand Formula Ford Championship gets underway at Timaru International Raceway on November 14 with two further South Island rounds in January before heading to the North Island for three rounds.

Many drivers will first line up at the South Island Formula Ford Championship (SIFFC) which gets underway October 16-17, also at Timaru.

Entries and car-leasing options are still available for both the NZFFC and SIFFC. With a number of drivers from Australia and the UK already entered the SIFFC expects large grids.