Two more podium finishes and a fastest lap underlined another solid weekend for British youngster Alex Lynn against strong local and international competition in the second round of the Toyota Racing Series in New Zealand.
The 17-year-old from Essex was on the pace from the moment testing began at the Timaru circuit. He finished second in the opening race, third in the second bout, and a delayed 10th in the finale after an unfortunate collision at the first corner. Lynn, the reigning Formula Renault UK Winter Cup champion, consolidated his second overall position in the points as the TRS circus moves to New Zealand’s North Island for the remaining two race weekends.
Driving with the Giles Motorsport squad of ex-McLaren Formula 1 mechanic Steve Giles, Lynn was satisfied to take second on the grid for both of the opening two races to team-mate and reigning TRS champion Mitch Evans.
“In testing we were really fast,” he said. “I could do exactly the same times as Mitch, but in qualifying the red flag came out before I could beat him. I was still second so it wasn’t too disappointing as anything can happen if you’re on the front row!”
Alex held off Australian Scott Pye, the reigning British Formula Ford champion, for second in the opening race: “Mitch got the jump on me. The track is very tight and twisty so it was a real procession. It was impossible for any of us in the top three to make a pass around there – you’d have to be at least half a second a lap faster to get by.”
In the second race, Lynn was jumped on the opening lap by another of his team-mates, Nick Cassidy, and thereafter chased Cassidy home while holding off Pye again, this time for third. “I made a really good start and went side by side with Mitch into the first corner,” he said. “I slotted in and braked early at the end of the back straight to try to get momentum on the exit, but Nick jumped out of my blind spot so caught me out and out-braked me.”
With the top six reversed on the grid for race three, that meant Alex would start from fourth. A collision with Pye at the first corner meant a punctured right-rear tyre, but Lynn rejoined to set fastest lap and gain more valuable points. “It was just really unfortunate. I got a rocket of a start, but the guy in second came across – I had to back out and Scott clipped my tyre with his front wing.”
Lynn now lies in a strong position in the points table at the halfway stage. The series takes a week’s break now before resuming at the new Hampton Downs facility on February 5/6, before culminating with the New Zealand Grand Prix at Manfeild the following weekend.
“It was another very positive weekend,” summed up Alex. “I’m second in the championship and learning all the time. I’m going to enjoy the break now and get some training in then come back in A1 shape for the last two rounds – best international driver is the minimum that I want to go home with!”
