Piggot gives top marks to CTFROC for driver prep

Former Indycar front runner and top driver coach Spencer Piggot says the Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Championship is one international motorsport category which is always on the radar of up and coming United States racers – and he was no exception.

Piggot was a very welcome addition to the off-track personalities involved in this year’s CTFROC championship and was a key player in the impressive effort of Jacob Abel, the leading US racer in the series this year.

“When this series was TRS it was always on my radar and the other young drivers I was competing against at that stage of my career,” he said.

“It was always a series I wanted to do, but I never managed to put it all together.

“That doesn’t diminish from what it offers young drivers of course and what I particularly like about it apart from the obvious things like the quality of the racing and the mileage these young drivers get, but rather the challenge of the individual tracks which are on the calendar.

“The New Zealand tracks are interesting, contrasting and very challenging and that’s certainly very good for driver development if I look at it from that perspective. And I think that’s one of the reasons why you see so many great Kiwis around the world racing.

“They’ve cut their teeth on these tracks and if you can go well on that selection of unforgiving and challenging circuits - where there are actual consequences if you go off not vast areas of run off – I reckon you can go well almost anywhere, so that’s a big plus for me and a key reason why Jacob competed in the championship.”

Abel had a very impressive campaignand came close to winning races. He didn’t take a chequered flag despite being a regular podium finisher but the preparation for his season in the IndyNXT Championship was comprehensive and has been a major factor in his strong start to the championship.

“The New Zealand Championship gives me everything I want as a driver coach for my customers and Jacob is no exception," added Spencer.

"The intensity, the mileage, the interaction with engineers, the combination of back-to-back weekends of testing, qualifying and racing is fantastic preparation for any driver heading into a big season. I very much hope we’ll be back with Jacob and the championship will of course remain on my radar.”