Dunlop Develoment Series

Hazelwood Reflects on Perfect Rookie Season

Dunlop Development Series, Todd Hazelwood Racing
Todd Hazelwood Racing team at the Sydney NRMA 500

Todd Hazelwood Racing team at the Sydney NRMA 500

SOUTH AUSTRALIAN Todd Hazelwood could not be more pleased with how his overall rookie year in the V8 Supercars Dunlop Development Series, after winning the prestigious Mike Kable Young Gun Award and finishing his personal best in the final race of the season at the Sydney NRMA 500 in fourth position.

The Tecalemit Australia driver managed to finish seventh for the round after an altercation in Race 1 finishing 20th, and also walked away being the highest placed rookie in eighth place on 1131 points.

“Sydney was a great success for the team at Tecalemit Racing, Saturday was good in a lot of ways even though our result was disappointing – we showed great race speed and ability to race through the field at a clean rapid rate,” Hazelwood said.

“Sunday was a much better day for the team, it was a long night Saturday getting the car prepared for the early morning qualifying so it was great to reward the team with ninth in the session.

“Race 2 was close and tough the whole way, and I was fortunate enough to avoid serious damage on a number of occasions during the opening laps of the race.

“I was able to use my great car speed and put some serious pressure on Andrew Jones for the remaining 10 laps of the race and on the final lap I had a crack for third but it didn’t quite pull off.

“It was still fantastic to finish fourth in the race and eighth overall in the series.”

The 19-year-old was also very humbled to receive the Mike Kable Young Gun Award for 2014.

“It was an absolute honour to win the Mike Kable Young Gun Award, all of the previous winners have gone on to have very successful careers in motorsport – it is a great reward for what has been an incredible journey throughout 2014,” Hazelwood continued.

The rookie believes that 2014 was the perfect way to start his debut V8 Supercar campaign, and it would have not been possible without the help from his team, family and sponsors.

“The team at Matt Stone Racing have done an incredible job all year, they have helped me get up-to-speed at a rapid rate,” Hazelwood continued.

“A big thank you must go out to my Mum, Dad and Sister for their dedication and work this year, without the help from my family I would not be racing.

“My sponsors throughout 2014 have been amazing and I can’t thank each and every one of them enough for all their support.”

Hazelwood is now focused on the off-season and cannot wait to hit his home streets of Adelaide for the first round of the 2015 Dunlop Series racing with Matt Stone Racing and compete under the Tecalemit Australia banner.

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Todd Hazelwood Impresses with Fourth in Practice

Dunlop Development Series, Todd Hazelwood Racing
Todd Hazelwood

Todd Hazelwood

EIGHTEEN-YEAR-OLD Todd Hazelwood has performed above his own expectations, finishing Practice 2 in an impressive fourth position during Round 3 of the Dunlop Development Series, held at Barbagallo Raceway in Perth.

The South Australian was sitting in second during the halfway mark of Practice 2, but after other teams putting fresh tyres on Hazelwood fell back to fourth.

Hazelwood is impressed with today’s practice efforts, and is looking forward to his first career race at Barbagallo Raceway tomorrow.

“It was a great day having my first laps at Barbagallo, after watching it for years on TV it was great to experience it behind the wheel for the first time,” Hazelwood said.

“Really enjoying the layout of the track, it has some really cool aspects and I am really looking forward doing more laps tomorrow.

“Very pleased to finish fourth overall in practice today, my team and I have looked through the data and there is more to be gained for qualifying and Race 1 tomorrow.

“Hopefully we can repay our supporters with a strong result tomorrow.”

Hazelwood finished 10th in Practice 1, despite never turning a lap at the Barbagallo circuit.

The teenager is also leading the rookie standings in the Dunlop Development Series championship, while currently placed 11th overall in the series.

Tomorrow Hazelwood will be on track for qualifying at 11:00am (AWST) for qualifying and 13:25pm (AWST) for Race 1, with the Dunlop Development Series race also televised live on Channel Seven (check your local guides for times).

Race schedule – Perth 400 Barbagallo Raceway

Saturday:11:00: Qualifying 1 (40 minutes)
13:25: Race 1 (38 laps) live on Seven

Sunday:    11:40: Race 2 (38 laps)
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Hazelwood Gains Championhip Momentum in Competitive Dunlop Series Round 2

Dunlop Development Series, Todd Hazelwood Racing
Todd racing at Winton. Photo: Belinda Douglas

Todd racing at Winton. Photo: Belinda Douglas

TODD Hazelwood has once again outperformed with his rookie status, finishing Race 2 of the Dunlop Series in 11th place out of 30 highly experienced racers at Winton Raceway.

With only making his fourth Dunlop Series start, the teenager drove his way through the field from a position 15 grid spot, gaining a strong advantage after the safety car restart avoiding the carnage, gaining the 18-year-old a 12th place finish overall for the round.

“Race two was action packed, the start was nose to tail and there was cars going everywhere, I was very lucky to survive lap one and not get turned around,” Hazelwood said.

“The safety car restart was crazy, I could see a couple of cars starting to hit the brakes hard in front of me and it was just a chain of cars running into each other, and I was fortunate to somehow miss the chaos and avoid damage.

“I’m very pleased with finishing 11th in Race 2 and 12th for the round.

“Both the team and myself worked hard all weekend and this is a great reward for my sponsors and supporters knowing that we are forever improving and getting closer and closer to the front of the 30 car field.”

Hazelwood is currently sitting outside the top ten of the Dunlop Series Championship on 288 points in 11th position out of 34 drivers.

“It’s a great feeling knowing we are 11th in the championship in just my second race meeting in a V8 Supercar,” Hazelwood said.

“There is some very experienced drivers both in front and behind me, so we have to be pleased with our current position.”

Round 3 of the Dunlop Development Series Championship will be held at Barbagallo Raceway for the Perth 400 in conjunction with the V8 Supercars, May 15-18.

 

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Top 15 Finish for Race 1 at Winton Raceway

Dunlop Development Series, Todd Hazelwood Racing
Todd Hazelwood in the pits ready for Qualifying 1

Todd Hazelwood in the pits ready for Qualifying 1

AFTER a strong practice session yesterday, Todd Hazelwood raced his way to position 15 in Race 1 showing promising pace for tomorrow’s final race at Round 2 of the Dunlop Series Championship at Winton Raceway.

The South Australian showed strong pace from the beginning of the day, finishing qualifying in position 13 with a lap time of 1:24.5447.

Race 1 saw Hazelwood three-wide on the outside of Turn 1 during the opening lap, falling back a few positions after being pushed wide, coming out in 20th position.

The 18-year-old pressed on, charging his way back through the field to finish an impressive 15th place over the 25-lap distance.

“After a good qualifying session this morning we were feeling confident we could produce a top-ten result in Race 1,” Hazelwood said.

“It was promising to know that we had good car speed throughout the race it was just a shame to get caught out on the outside at the start which hurt us with track position on the opening lap.

“Although 15th isn’t the place we want to be, I am forever improving and I’m understanding the car better every time I get behind the wheel.

“It’s important during my learning stages to gain as many championship points as possible and set ourselves up for a strong placing in the championship at the end of the year.”

The teenager will hit the circuit for the final race tomorrow, with his starting position for Race 2 based on his finishing position for Race 1.

Hazelwood is currently sitting outside the top ten of the Dunlop Series Championship on 216 points in 12th position.

Race 2 will start at 1:15pm AEST and the lap times can be viewed live through www.natsoft.com.au.

Winton 400

Sunday (6 April)
13:15: Race 2 (25 laps)

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