Singaporean race driver makes history

Singaporean driver and Team Singapore motorsports athlete Andrew Tang (above in his Toyota racing car) has made history by being the first non-New Zealander to win the 2014 Toyota Racing Series in New Zealand after Round 5 of the series on 9 Feb 2014 (Sunday).

Prior to the final race of the five-stop championship, the 19-year-old was already leading the pack by seven points. He eventually finished third in the final race at Manfeild to clinch the title with 791 points, beating 22 other drivers from 14 countries. Andrew’s closest rival, Briton Jann Mardenborough, finished second in the overall standings.
The 2014 Toyota Racing Series is the tenth running of the Toyota Racing Series, the premier open-wheeler motorsport category held in New Zealand. The series, which consists of five meetings of three races, began on 11 January 2014 at Teretonga Park in Invercargill, and ended on 9 February 2014 with the 59th running of the New Zealand Grand Prix, at Manfeild Autocourse in Feilding.

Andrew, a Singaporean motorsports athlete and aspiring Formula 1 race driver, has been hooked on motorsports since he was seven year old. For the first two years, he spent every weekend with his father in Sepang, Malaysia, developing his driving skills at a training facility some 340 kilometres from home. He has been flying the Team Singapore flag at various races since 2012.

When asked how Andrew felt about being the first non-New Zealander to win the 2014 Toyota Racing Series, Mr Tang said: “Well, it’s been unbelievable and a dream come true for him. The competition was tough and it all came down to the final race of the series.”

Following this historic win, Andrew will be heading back to our shores to prepare for his enlistment into the army, where he will begin to serve his national service.

Mr Tang also shared his feelings about his son’s massive win: “As parents, we are so proud and happy for him. We know how hard he has worked for this. It is not possible to achieve such success if one is not committed and prepared to make sacrifices.”