M2 Competition are delighted to announce Rui Andrade as their first driver for the 2020 Toyota Racing Series.
Andrade will be the first Angolan to race in the 16-year history of the five-round all-Kiwi series, which has attracted big names over the years including current Formula 1 racers Lando Norris and Daniil Kvyat.
Andrade made
his circuit racing debut in 2018 – and his debut on the international racing
scene – in the Spanish Formula 4 Championship where he scored a solid 43 points
in 14 races, on his way to 11th overall in the standings.
During a busy 2019 season the 20-year-old has
been racing in three series; the Euroformula Open, Formula Renault Eurocup and
the UAE Formula 4.
He has taken six
podium finishes and two fastest laps so far in the UAE series. In May he also
finished fourth-best rookie on his debut around the challenging streets of Pau
in Euroformula Open.
This will be his first time racing or visiting
New Zealand and he is looking forward to the challenge and being part of the
most successful team in the history of the Toyota Racing Series, whilst
continuing his learning process in single seater junior formulae.
“The Toyota Racing Series has an impressive list
of names that have gone on to achieve great things and I aim to do the same, »
he explained.
« It’s not
only an ideal way to prepare for a season of racing in Europe but it is
extremely competitive and visits some really cool tracks in a country that I’ve
always wanted to visit.
“M2 has a really strong track record in the
series and I’m ready to learn from them and my team-mates. I really don’t think
there is any better way to spend my winter season!”
M2 Competition’s Mark Pilcher was delighted to
secure the Angolan racer, adding: “We are happy to welcome Rui on board. With
the testing program in place and the progress shown so far it will be great to
see him improve across the five weekends. Like many drivers before him, he will
gain massive experience in TRS.”
The 2020 championship will begin at Highlands
Motorsport Park over the weekend of January 17-19. It stays in the South Island
for the second round a week later, moving to Teretonga Park near Invercargill
for round two.
The series then heads to the North Island for
the remaining three weekends of racing. That will include the Denny Hulme
Memorial Trophy at Hampton Downs, the New Zealand Motor Cup at Pukekohe and the
final round, the New Zealand Grand Prix meeting over the weekend of February
14-16 at Manfeild.
