2017 Lady Wigram Trophy
# 2017 Lady Wigram Trophy

The 2017 Lady Wigram Trophy was the 56th running of the Lady Wigram Trophy and served as the first round of the 2017 Toyota Racing Series. The event was held at the Mike Pero Motorsport Park, in Christchurch, New Zealand from 13 to 15 January 2017.

The defending Lady Wigram Trophy winner was Force India protégé, Jehan Daruvala. He would repeat his feat by winning the Lady Wigram Trophy for the second year in a row.

## Background

The 2017 Toyota Racing Series sees the highest number of returning drivers (Brendon Leitch, Thomas Randle, Pedro Piquet, Jehan Daruvala, Ferdinand Habsburg, Kami Laliberté and Taylor Cockerton) since 2013 with seven.

Defending champion, Lando Norris initially announced intentions to return to the series for 2017 to defend his title. However, he later announced his withdrawal. The vacant seat would be taken by Frenchman, Jean Baptiste Simmenauer.

## Report

### Practice

For the first practice session of the weekend, Enaam Ahmed achieved the fastest lap time with a 1:18.200, followed closely by Thomas Randle and Richard Verschoor. The session was relatively clean, with only two spins in the session (Andres and Laliberté). The second practice session was equally as uneventful with Thomas Randle lowering the best time down to a 1:18.147, with the closest two rivals being Shelby Blackstock and Jehan Daruvala. For the third and final practice session, several drivers broke into the 17's, with Taylor Cockerton being the fastest of all with a 1:17.383. He was followed by Thomas Randle and Enaam Ahmed.

| Session | Day | Fastest lap | Fastest lap | Fastest lap | Fastest lap |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Session | Day | No. | Driver | Team | Time |
| Practice 1 | Friday | 65 | Enaam Ahmed | Giles Motorsport | 1:18.200 |
| Practice 2 | Friday | 49 | Thomas Randle | Victory Motor Racing | 1:18.147 |
| Practice 3 | Friday | 11 | Taylor Cockerton | MTEC Motorsport | 1:17.383 |

### Race 1

**Qualifying**

Jehan Daruvala continued his fine form at the Mike Pero Motorsport Park by grabbing the first pole position of the year with a 1:17.424.

| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Time | Grid |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 9 | Jehan Daruvala | M2 Competition | 1:17.424 | 1 |
| 2 | 8 | Marcus Armstrong | M2 Competition | 1:17.582 | 2 |
| 3 | 62 | Ferdinand Habsburg | M2 Competition | 1:17.641 | 3 |
| 4 | 22 | Richard Verschoor | Giles Motorsport | 1:17.648 | 4 |
| 5 | 49 | Thomas Randle | Victory Motor Racing | 1:17.665 | 5 |
| 6 | 11 | Taylor Cockerton | MTEC Motorsport | 1:17.797 | 6 |
| 7 | 5 | Pedro Piquet | M2 Competition | 1:17.832 | 7 |
| 8 | 65 | Enaam Ahmed | Giles Motorsport | 1:17.871 | 8 |
| 9 | 47 | Keyvan Andres Soori | Giles Motorsport | 1:18.179 | 9 |
| 10 | 24 | Ameya Vaidyanathan | MTEC Motorsport | 1:18.319 | 10 |
| 11 | 83 | Kami Laliberté | M2 Competition | 1:18.331 | 11 |
| 12 | 51 | Shelby Blackstock | Victory Motor Racing | 1:18.366 | 12 |
| 13 | 3 | Brendon Leitch | Victory Motor Racing | 1:18.440 | 13 |
| 14 | 33 | Kory Enders | MTEC Motorsport | 1:18.441 | 14 |
| 15 | 26 | Harry Hayek | Giles Motorsport | 1:18.467 | 15 |
| 16 | 96 | Luis Leeds | Giles Motorsport | 1:18.474 | 16 |
| 17 | 12 | Christian Hahn | Giles Motorsport | 1:18.613 | 17 |
| 18 | 10 | Thomas Neubauer | MTEC Motorsport | 1:18.932 | 18 |
| 19 | 80 | Nikita Lastochkin | M2 Competition | 1:19.013 | 19 |
| 20 | 27 | Jean Baptiste Simmenauer | M2 Competition | 1:19.485 | 20 |
| Sources: ||||||

**Race**

After a great start from Daruvala, a safety car caused by Enders stranded car closed the field up once again. On the restart, Armstrong got onto the gearbox of Daruvala, and committed to a brave move around the outside to take the lead and ultimately the win.

| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Laps | Time / Retired | Grid |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 8 | Marcus Armstrong | M2 Competition | 15 | 22min 12.255sec | 2 |
| 2 | 9 | Jehan Daruvala | M2 Competition | 15 | + 0.851 s | 1 |
| 3 | 22 | Richard Verschoor | Giles Motorsport | 15 | + 1.921 s | 4 |
| 4 | 49 | Thomas Randle | Victory Motor Racing | 15 | + 2.512 s | 5 |
| 5 | 11 | Taylor Cockerton | MTEC Motorsport | 15 | + 5.398 s | 6 |
| 6 | 5 | Pedro Piquet | M2 Competition | 15 | + 6.059 s | 7 |
| 7 | 62 | Ferdinand Habsburg | M2 Competition | 15 | + 6.416 s | 3 |
| 8 | 65 | Enaam Ahmed | Giles Motorsport | 15 | + 7.898 s | 8 |
| 9 | 3 | Brendon Leitch | Victory Motor Racing | 15 | + 9.056 s | 13 |
| 10 | 83 | Kami Laliberté | M2 Competition | 15 | + 10.055 s | 11 |
| 11 | 51 | Shelby Blackstock | Victory Motor Racing | 15 | + 11.637 s | 12 |
| 12 | 47 | Keyvan Andres Soori | Giles Motorsport | 15 | + 13.232 s | 9 |
| 13 | 24 | Ameya Vaidyanathan | MTEC Motorsport | 15 | + 17.042 s | 10 |
| 14 | 26 | Harry Hayek | Giles Motorsport | 15 | + 17.388 s | 15 |
| 15 | 96 | Luis Leeds | Giles Motorsport | 15 | + 18.025 s | 16 |
| 16 | 10 | Thomas Neubauer | MTEC Motorsport | 15 | + 18.414 s | 18 |
| 17 | 12 | Christian Hahn | Giles Motorsport | 15 | + 19.324 s | 17 |
| 18 | 27 | Jean Baptiste Simmenauer | M2 Competition | 15 | + 35.660 s | 20 |
| 19 | 33 | Kory Enders | MTEC Motorsport | 14 | + 1 lap | 14 |
| Ret | 80 | Nikita Lastochkin | Victory Motor Racing | 7 | Retired | 19 |
| Fastest lap: Richard Verschoor (Giles Motorsport) - 1:18.237 |||||||
| Source(s): |||||||

### Race 2

In the reverse grid race, Thomas Randle took his first Toyota Racing Series win, followed by Verschoor and Armstrong. When crossing the line Taylor Cockerton was first, followed by Piquet and Randle. Cockerton and Piquet got a time penalty and therefore dropped in the race result.

| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Laps | Time / Retired | Grid |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 49 | Thomas Randle | Victory Motor Racing | 15 | 19min 54.937sec | 3 |
| 2 | 22 | Richard Verschoor | Giles Motorsport | 15 | + 6.119 s | 4 |
| 3 | 8 | Marcus Armstrong | M2 Competition | 15 | + 7.627 s | 6 |
| 4 | 11 | Taylor Cockerton | MTEC Motorsport | 15 | + 10.000 s | 2 |
| 5 | 62 | Ferdinand Habsburg | M2 Competition | 15 | + 11.636 s | 7 |
| 6 | 3 | Brendon Leitch | Victory Motor Racing | 15 | + 12.456 s | 9 |
| 7 | 51 | Shelby Blackstock | Victory Motor Racing | 15 | + 18.548 s | 11 |
| 8 | 83 | Kami Laliberté | M2 Competition | 15 | + 19.032 s | 10 |
| 9 | 26 | Harry Hayek | Giles Motorsport | 15 | + 19.325 s | 14 |
| 10 | 47 | Keyvan Andres Soori | Giles Motorsport | 15 | + 23.841 s | 12 |
| 11 | 96 | Luis Leeds | Giles Motorsport | 15 | + 23.874 s | 15 |
| 12 | 65 | Enaam Ahmed | Giles Motorsport | 15 | + 24.507 s | 8 |
| 13 | 33 | Kory Enders | MTEC Motorsport | 15 | + 25.290 s | 19 |
| 14 | 24 | Ameya Vaidyanathan | MTEC Motorsport | 15 | + 26.073 s | 13 |
| 15 | 80 | Nikita Lastochkin | Victory Motor Racing | 15 | + 29.466 s | 20 |
| 16 | 10 | Thomas Neubauer | MTEC Motorsport | 15 | + 29.681 s | 16 |
| 17 | 5 | Pedro Piquet | M2 Competition | 15 | + 30.000 s | 1 |
| 18 | 27 | Jean Baptiste Simmenauer | M2 Competition | 15 | + 30.339 s | 18 |
| 19 | 12 | Christian Hahn | Giles Motorsport | 15 | + 30.784 s | 17 |
| 20 | 9 | Jehan Daruvala | M2 Competition | 13 | + 2 laps | 5 |
| Fastest lap: Taylor Cockerton (MTEC Motorsport) - 1:18.673 |||||||
| Source(s): |||||||

### Race 3

**Qualifying**

Daruvala once again took the pole with a tight margin over Armstrong and Ahmed.

| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Time | Grid |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 9 | Jehan Daruvala | M2 Competition | 1:16.800 | 1 |
| 2 | 8 | Marcus Armstrong | M2 Competition | 1:16.801 | 2 |
| 3 | 65 | Enaam Ahmed | Giles Motorsport | 1:16.866 | 3 |
| 4 | 5 | Pedro Piquet | M2 Competition | 1:17.067 | 4 |
| 5 | 11 | Taylor Cockerton | MTEC Motorsport | 1:17.070 | 5 |
| 6 | 22 | Richard Verschoor | Giles Motorsport | 1:17.072 | 6 |
| 7 | 49 | Thomas Randle | Victory Motor Racing | 1:17.164 | 7 |
| 8 | 62 | Ferdinand Habsburg | M2 Competition | 1:17.471 | 8 |
| 9 | 47 | Keyvan Andres Soori | Giles Motorsport | 1:17.536 | 9 |
| 10 | 3 | Brendon Leitch | Victory Motor Racing | 1:17.549 | 10 |
| 11 | 51 | Shelby Blackstock | Victory Motor Racing | 1:17.614 | 11 |
| 12 | 83 | Kami Laliberté | M2 Competition | 1:17.638 | 12 |
| 13 | 33 | Kory Enders | MTEC Motorsport | 1:17.669 | 13 |
| 14 | 26 | Harry Hayek | Giles Motorsport | 1:17.685 | 14 |
| 15 | 96 | Luis Leeds | Giles Motorsport | 1:17.707 | 15 |
| 16 | 80 | Nikita Lastochkin | Victory Motor Racing | 1:18.014 | 16 |
| 17 | 10 | Thomas Neubauer | MTEC Motorsport | 1:18.021 | 17 |
| 18 | 12 | Christian Hahn | Giles Motorsport | 1:18.023 | 18 |
| 19 | 24 | Ameya Vaidyanathan | MTEC Motorsport | 1:18.164 | 19 |
| 20 | 27 | Jean Baptiste Simmenauer | M2 Competition | 1:19.038 | 20 |
| Sources: ||||||

**Race**

In what was an incident-marred race, Daruvala took his second consecutive Lady Wigram Trophy with Ahmed and Piquet rounding out the podium.

| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Laps | Time / Retired | Grid |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 9 | Jehan Daruvala | M2 Competition | 20 | 37min 01.402sec | 1 |
| 2 | 65 | Enaam Ahmed | Giles Motorsport | 20 | + 0.915 s | 3 |
| 3 | 5 | Pedro Piquet | M2 Competition | 20 | + 1.401 s | 4 |
| 4 | 22 | Richard Verschoor | Giles Motorsport | 20 | + 1.703 s | 6 |
| 5 | 49 | Thomas Randle | Victory Motor Racing | 20 | + 2.124 s | 7 |
| 6 | 62 | Ferdinand Habsburg | M2 Competition | 20 | + 2.694 s | 8 |
| 7 | 3 | Brendon Leitch | Victory Motor Racing | 20 | + 2.926 s | 10 |
| 8 | 12 | Christian Hahn | Giles Motorsport | 20 | + 3.168 s | 18 |
| 9 | 33 | Kory Enders | MTEC Motorsport | 20 | + 4.181 s | 13 |
| 10 | 26 | Harry Hayek | Giles Motorsport | 20 | + 5.045 s | 14 |
| 11 | 83 | Kami Laliberté | M2 Competition | 20 | + 5.923 s | 12 |
| 12 | 11 | Taylor Cockerton | MTEC Motorsport | 20 | + 8.145 s | 5 |
| 13 | 96 | Luis Leeds | Giles Motorsport | 20 | + 9.648 s | 15 |
| 14 | 10 | Thomas Neubauer | MTEC Motorsport | 20 | + 13.926 s | 17 |
| 15 | 51 | Shelby Blackstock | Victory Motor Racing | 18 | + 2 laps | 11 |
| Ret | 8 | Marcus Armstrong | M2 Competition | 16 | Suspension | 2 |
| Ret | 24 | Ameya Vaidyanatahan | MTEC Motorsport | 11 | Retired | 19 |
| Ret | 27 | Jean Baptiste Simmenauer | M2 Competition | 11 | Spun off | 20 |
| Ret | 47 | Keyvan Andres Soori | Giles Motorsport | 10 | Spun off | 9 |
| Ret | 80 | Nikita Lastochkin | Victory Motor Racing | 8 | Spun off | 16 |
| Fastest lap: Jehan Daruvala (M2 Competition) - 1:19.499 |||||||
| Source(s): |||||||

## Championship standings

### Drivers' Championship standings

| Pos. | Driver | Points |
| - | - | - |
| 1 | Richard Verschoor | 181 |
| 2 | Thomas Randle | 178 |
| 3 | Jehan Daruvala | 142 |
| 4 | Ferdinand Habsburg | 136 |
| 5 | Marcus Armstrong | 135 |
