Bay of Plenty motor car racer, Richie Stanaway is hoping an online voting poll will be his ticket to entry in a Grand Prix shootout in the United Kingdom in October. www.driverdb.com is running the contest that allows people to vote for their favourite driver with the top three getting the opportunity to enter the shootout.


Richie Stanaway, 17, the 2008/09 New Zealand Formula Ford Champion – only the 2nd ever rookie winner.

Richie supporter Maurice O'Reilly says winning entry into the Grand Prix shootout would go a long way toward him achieving big in motor sport. The winner of the shootout receives a contract to race in Formula BWM in 2010, which is the development class for Formula Three, which in turn is the training ground for Formula One.
The winner is also guaranteed some Formula One testing next year.
Maurice describes this opportunity as 'a fast track to Formula One”.
The cost of entry into the shootout is about $20,000 and is too expensive for the 17 year old, so his hopes of competing there hinge on the online competition.
Maurice says many people have already voted for Richie as he is a popular choice on the database, but he needs the full support of the Bay community to ensure he will make it.
Richie is a genuine talent, 'His start to win ratio is impressive at nearly 30 per cent; this is much higher than Scott Dixon at the same time in his career,” says Maurice.
Richie is currently working towards being picked for a fully funded European development group that would groom him for a professional career that could eventually lead to a place in Formula One, but winning the shootout would be even better for the boy from the Bay.

Follow this link to vote for Richie.