By: Kami Laliberté Racing
January 22 2017
Invercargill, New Zealand – Following the more than seventy free practice laps of Thursday and Friday on the short Teretonga circuit located at the extreme south tip of New Zealand, Montreal born Kami Laliberté and the nineteen other young drivers from various countries engaged in the Castrol Toyota Racing Series, returned to the track today for two qualifying session and a first weekend race.
In the morning on the very short 2.57 kilometres track, as he admits without restraint, the Canadian missed a good opportunity to get a good result during the first qualifying session. ‘’It did not go very well; I was not able to find any good place on track. I ended up with the 17th position, more than half a second behind the pole’’, quickly summarizes the young driver, fully aware of the impact this starting position would have on his first weekend race.
But, putting the first qualifying result behind, Laliberté had reasons to be more positive toward the result of his second session. The driver, who has been the more active on track during that second session, earned the 9th fastest time, a quarter of a second behind pole. ‘’It went much better. I had a good rhythm and I recorded some fast laps. A 9th place, it is still a middle of the grid position but It is much easier to manage’’, said the Canadian.
To conclude their Saturday activities, the driver had to dispute the first of the three races on the weekend program, a 15-lap event. ‘’I was starting from the 17th place and under these circumstances; I think that I manage well this race. I had a good start and despite the fact that I had to navigate among a tight group of cars where passing was not easy, I climbed up to 13th place. Finally, I earned 12th position following a penalty.’’ Realistically, the Canadian draw a simple conclusion for this day by saying: ‘’I would have taken a much better start for the weekend’’.
Laliberté will have the opportunity to record better results tomorrow with two other races: another 15-lap event in the morning and a third and last 20-lap in conclusion later in the afternoon. One must note that this meeting at the Teretonga motor circuit is the second of five to be disputed until mid-February on a similar number of race courses.
Young drivers from twelve countries have entered this series where all similar open wheel chassis are powered by Toyota engines.
At any moment, it is possible to learn more about Kami Laliberté at www.kamilaliberte.com. It is also possible to follow in real time the Castrol Toyota Racing Series of New Zealand at www.toyota.com.nz.