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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tZack Scoular celebrates winning the 70th edition of the New Zealand Grand Prix. Image: Joel Hanks<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tZack Scoular celebrates winning the 70th edition of the New Zealand Grand Prix. Image: Joel Hanks<\/p>\n
Driving for Bruin Beasley\u2019s MTEC Motorsport, Scoular got a stunning start to pip Hitech TGR driver Jin Nakamura into the bus stop chicane.<\/p>\n
Scoular never looked back. Though the gap from first to second ebbed and flowed, Nakamura never looked like he would mount a serious challenge for the lead.<\/p>\n
With victory, Scoular became the 33rd driver from New Zealand to win the famous grand prix.<\/p>\n
Ninth place for Ugo Ugochukwu secured him the Formula Regional Oceania Trophy for M2 Competition.<\/p>\n
His nearest title rival and teammate Freddie Slater was fourth behind Hitech TGR driver Kanato Le in third.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t believe it. Oh my days,\u201d said Scoular.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know, we\u2019ve had such a tough year. The pace we\u2019ve shown all year was really good, I just had so many unlucky moments.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s probably the last race I\u2019ll have in single-seaters for the time [being]. I can\u2019t thank the team at MTEC enough, my family, everyone else involved. It means so much.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not easy being a racing driver, especially financially. We do a lot to try get going and to be able to pay them back with this win means so much.<\/p>\n
\u201cTowards the end of the race, we started pulling out a bit of a gap and started getting my head down a bit after managing the tyre. As soon as I saw that Safety Car, I knew.\u201d<\/p>\n
Team owner Beasley was overwhelmed with emotions.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s the first time that his MTEC team has won the New Zealand Grand Prix.<\/p>\n
MTEC Motorsport made its first entry in the Formula Regional Oceania Trophy in 2017 under the former Toyota Racing Series guise.<\/p>\n
That came via a partnership between Trevor Scheumack\u2019s ETEC Motorsport and Beasley\u2019s Minda Motorsports.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a bit emotional. It\u2019s 10 years worth of work,\u201d said Beasley.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve been on the front row the last three years in a row. Pole last year, a couple of seconds, and now we\u2019ve done it.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe last few days have been pretty tough, but we\u2019ve always had a car up there. Now we\u2019ve got a big trophy.\u201d<\/p>\n
The race was an eventful one, featuring a red flag interruption.<\/p>\n
Nolan Allaer threatened to bring out the yellow when he suffered a puncture on Lap 5 following an off-track moment out of Turn 2.<\/p>\n
The first Safety Car was called on Lap 11 when Jack Taylor crashed exiting the Turn 12 hairpin.<\/p>\n
The red flag was called due to an awkward clean-up. After a brief stoppage, racing resumed on Lap 15.<\/p>\n
Ryan wood make a move on his MTEC teammate Louis Sharp to fifth where he would remain until the chequered flag.<\/p>\n
There was late drama when Cooper Shipman spun and parked his car in the gravel trap. Then fellow American driver Trevor LaTourrette slammed into the wall at the Turn 2 sweeper.<\/p>\n
The race ultimately ended up the control of the Safety Car.<\/p>\n
Results: Formula Regional Oceania Trophy Highlands, 70th New Zealand Grand Prix<\/p>\n
Pos
\nNum
\nDriver
\nTeam
\nLaps\/Diff<\/p>\n
1
\n3
\nZack Scoular
\nMTEC Motorsport
\n27 laps<\/p>\n
2
\n12
\nJin Nakamura
\nHitech TGR
\n0.434<\/p>\n
3
\n19
\nKanato Le
\nHitech TGR
\n0.807<\/p>\n
4
\n27
\nFreddie Slater
\nM2 Competition
\n1.28<\/p>\n
5
\n40
\nRyan Wood
\nMTEC Motorsport
\n2.163<\/p>\n
6
\n11
\nLouis Sharp
\nMTEC Motorsport
\n2.796<\/p>\n
7
\n23
\nLiam Sceats
\nHMD Motorsports with TJ Speed
\n3.491<\/p>\n
8
\n13
\nJames Wharton
\nHMD Motorsports with TJ Speed
\n4.059<\/p>\n
9
\n4
\nUgo Ugochukwu
\nM2 Competition
\n4.639<\/p>\n
10
\n22
\nSebastian Manson
\nM2 Competition
\n5.005<\/p>\n
11
\n33
\nFionn McLaughlin
\nHitech TGR
\n5.309<\/p>\n
12
\n41
\nRicardo Baptista
\nHMD Motorsports with TJ Speed
\n5.921<\/p>\n
13
\n21
\nYevan David
\nKiwi Motorsport
\n8.229<\/p>\n
14
\n5
\nYuanpu Cui
\nMTEC Motorsport
\n11.322<\/p>\n
15
\n52
\nNolan Allaer
\nGiles Motorsport
\n1 lap<\/p>\n
16
\n8
\nTrevor LaTourrette
\nHMD Motorsports with TJ Speed
\n2 laps<\/p>\n
17
\n14
\nCooper Shipman
\nKiwi Motorsport
\n3 laps<\/p>\n
DNF
\n50
\nJack Taylor
\nGiles Motorsport
\nLap 9<\/p>\n
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