New Zealand Grand Prix winner Liam Sceats is already back to work, jetting out to the United States just days after he won the 68th running of the famed race for a USF Pro 2000 test at New Orleans Motorsport Park.
Sceats rejoins TJ Speed Motorsports for the outing, having previously tested with the same outfit at Indianapolis in October 2023, completing five sessions and finishing as high as fourth on his final run.
“It feels good to know that I have an opportunity to test overseas next week,” he said. “This brings me one step closer to my ultimate goal: contesting a full championship overseas.
“I’ll be working hard on raising further sponsorship and looking for new prospects that could help make the goal of competing in the Road to Indy program a reality.”
The Auckland-based driver finished the 2024 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Championship as runner-up but won three of the last four races, including the Grand Prix, to end the season on a high.
Whilst he admits he’s disappointed not to feature at the top of the standings, clinching the season-ending race at Highlands Motorsport Park was definitely a highlight.
“Over the last few days, I’ve been able to look back and soak in what was an unforgettable weekend,” he said.
“Being able to sit down after the race with the NZ Motor Cup and look through and see all the great names like Bruce McLaren and Jackie Stewart was cool, but what was more important to me were names like Lando Norris, Nick Cassidy, and SVG in recent years, which made it very surreal that my name was going to be apart of the historic trophy, too.
“My goal heading into this season was to win the championship and the New Zealand Grand Prix. It’s disappointing that we couldn’t achieve the ultimate goal, but it still feels like a successful campaign as we came away with the 68th New Zealand Grand Prix.”
Sceats finished second overall in the championship, 44 points behind teammate Roman Bilinski, who secured honours with one race to run.
A qualifying crash put Bilinski on the back foot for the Grand Prix, with Sceats taking the upper hand for the race by qualifying on pole.
His closest competition come race time came from the front row, with fellow Tony Quinn Foundation-backed driver and 2023 runner-up Callum Hedge, a late addition to the field, qualifying second.
The race for Sceats was won off the start, with Hedge forced to hold off a charge from South Korea’s Michael Shin, which allowed the M2 Competition driver to pull clear for a comfortable win.
“Congratulations to Callum for a Tony Quinn Foundation one-two,” he said. “It couldn’t have been more perfect for them, as it was the first New Zealand Grand Prix ever hosted at Highlands Motorsport Park.
“I’m happy that I was able to help make this a reality for Tony and the trustees.
“A massive thank you to the Tony Quinn Foundation, who supported the #23 entry, and my Canadian engineer Dylan, James, Jacob and Daniel. I’d also like to mention Jonathon, Pilch, Elise and the rest of the amazing people from the M2 Competition for their hard work for the entire five weeks.”
Sceats has completed two full seasons of the Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Championship, finishing fourth in 2023 and runner-up in 2024. In 30 starts, he has 11 podiums, including three race wins.
While big things await the 18-year-old, he admits a future return is not outside the realm of possibility.
“A big thank you to Toyota Gazoo Racing New Zealand for their generous support towards Kiwi drivers like myself and for putting a championship that is so beneficial for my development on and off the race track,” he added.
“I’d love another five weeks because I’ve loved every moment of racing in this championship, and I would be lying if I said it because of the recent winning momentum we had behind us.
“I look forward to returning to the championship in the future.”
