By: Kami Laliberte Racing
January 14 2017 

Christchurch, New Zealand – As he did last year young Montréal-born driver has chosen to launch his auto racing season early and down-under as he has entered the New Zealand ‘’Castrol Toyota Racing Series”, a five-round open-wheel championship from Mid-January to Mid-February. The first round is taking place this weekend on the short and winding 3.3 kilometer Ruapuna circuit in Christchurch, third largest city of the country, located on its South Island. The grid is made of 20 drivers representing 11 countries and where Laliberté is the sole Canadian representative on track.

As it is usually the case in this championship, the Friday has been devoted to free testing sessions. Today, Saturday, drivers had to enter a pair of qualifying sessions before they lined up for the start of the first of the three weekend races. In the first qualifying session, the Canadian who is racing again this year with the M2 Competition team had to cope with suspension problems and concluded with the eleventh place. At the end of the second qualifying session, even he had been 693 thousandths faster than in the morning, this time the driver clocked the 12th fastest time.

With drivers all closed to each other and very little overtakes during the 15-lap race of the afternoon, the young Canadian driver concluded in tenth place.

‘’ All things considered, I thing that I had a good first day. I would have like to do better in qualifying. During the first one, I had problems and needed to return to the pit. But I managed to return and reclaim the 11th spot. As for the second qualifying, I had a very good first lap but I made a few mistakes later. Finally, in regard to the race, I’m satisfied. I climbed from 11th to 10th place. It is satisfactory. I will do my best tomorrow to get better results. The importance this weekend is to end all races and earned points “, explained the Montreal-born driver.

One has noted that this year’s group of driver is of high quality. As an example, New Zealand born Brendon Leitch who was 3 rd in the 2016 series standings, finished today’s race one position head of Laliberté. It worth mentioning that last year on this same course, the Canadian had to retire during his first race in New Zealand.

Sunday, the drivers will enter a first race in the morning, once again a 15-lap event; before the final match-up of the week-end, a 20-lap race in the afternoon. Even if he would have to start in the middle of the grid on each occasion, Laliberté is confident to earn good results.

Learn more about Kami Laliberté at www.kamilaliberte.com. and follow in real time the Castrol Toyota Racing Series of New Zealand at www.toyota.com.nz.