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2016/17 Team Kiwi Racing (TKR)/Thomas Boniface season summary

13 year old Kiwi, Thomas Boniface, has come a long way in the last 12 months.

With a successful 6th straight season behind the wheel of a kart and another National title (2016 NZ Schools Champion) being added to his already impressive list of karting achievements, Thomas received a call out of the blue from David John of Team Kiwi Racing to do a test day with Team Kiwi Racing in one of the TKR BMW Supercharged BMW Mini’s.

This is a Supercharged BMW Mini. Like a go kart on steroids and this vehicle had already won two previous championships with Team Kiwi Racing (TKR), so as you could imagine Thomas was over the moon at receiving the call from Team Kiwi Racing (TKR).

Thomas began his racing career at 6 ½ years old in a kart, and after winning four New Zealand titles and one Australian scalp, as well as setting several track records along the way, the timely approach from Team Kiwi Racing was just what Thomas required to make the significant step up into the world of touring car racing.

Although a little daunting at first and not really knowing what to expect, Thomas turned out for a test day at Pukekohe on June 18 2016 in the TKR All Black BMW Mini, where TKR’s Development Academy Drivers instructor, Craig Baird, was on hand to help ease Thomas into his new surroundings. A measured approach was taken by Thomas at first as he built up speed and confidence throughout the day with guidance from Team Kiwi Racing (TKR).

By the third run of the day it was evident that Thomas was listening to what was said and was getting on top of the way the car felt to drive and the characteristics of the Pukekohe Park track itself. After the third test run and in between discussions with TKR, Thomas’ confidence grew quickly and by the end of the day, Thomas had acclimatized himself well in the factory-built, LHD, supercharged TKR rocket ship.

During the initial test day, Thomas was very enthusiastic, as was TKR, about the potential in the car and driver.

Following some further discussion around where Thomas saw his motorsport career going in the future Team Kiwi Racing offered Thomas a generously upported opportunity to drive for TKR in the 2016/17 BMW Drivers Series.

Obviously Thomas was thrilled and honored at the opportunity offered to him by Team Kiwi Racing and could not wait to get back behind the wheel of the TKR BMW Mini and continue his development and learning both on and off the race track as a TKR Development Academy driver.

With more testing, sharpening of skills and help from TKR including input from TKR Driver instructor Craig Baird under his belt, Thomas was confident and ready to make his debut as the youngest ever driver to have ever raced in a New Zealand sanctioned motorsport event.

We at Motorsport Import Co wish Thomas all the very best for his motorsport career.



Great job Thomas
John Lindesay
Motorsport Import Co.