2010 TRS Rookie

Birth date: 8 December 1988 (21)

Home town: Oakura

Team: Triple X Motorsport

Team Principals: Shane McKillen / Mike Morten

Engineer: Greg Wheeler /Mark Pilcher

Sponsors: Miles Toyota, Horizon

Website: http://stefanweblingmotorsport.com/

Stefan Webling has a knack of getting his talent recognised. The 21-year-old from Oakura near New Plymouth has followed the traditional path from karting through the junior classes to reach TRS via a one-off TRS Lites drive in Hamilton last season.

In karting he was a finalist in the lucrative Speedsport Scholarship. He didn’t win but went Formula First racing anyway and picked up an MTA Scholarship for Formula Ford. While in FF he was noticed by Shane McKillen of Triple X Motorsport and that has lead to a full season in TRS with the new Auckland team.

For 21-year-old Stefan Webling, the Toyota Racing Series is a step forward having finished third in last season’s Formula Ford series. Bolstering his early links with the team, where he was supported by team partner VnC Cocktails.  Webling is also supported by Horizon Energy Services Ltd and Miles Toyota, Christchurch.

Stefan was still considering his team options when he participated in the pre-season testing at Manfeild; and is delighted at the late opportunity to work with the new Triple X team that has Greg Wheeler responsible for overall engineering and Mark Pilcher heading the mechanics.

Like virtually all his kiwi rivals, Stefan was introduced to motorsport by karting which he pursued between 2001 and 2005. He won a title at the Taranaki championships and in 2004 was second in the junior Gold Star series in the lower North Island.

He followed the established pathway by moving up to Formula First with the Sabre Team and then made quite an impression in his first FF season with Crawford. In his first season he was fourth overall and Rookie of the Year, as well as setting a lap record at Taupo.

Boosted by encouragement from Triple X, Stefan became a regular front runner last season in which he improved to third overall in the title chase behind Richie Stannaway and Mitch Evans.

Stefan is an apprentice automotive technician with Max Pennington in New Plymouth. Those who remember Levin will know that Pennington was a successful touring car driver during the 1960-70’s era.

There is a strong family connection with motorsport too. His father Steve, who is now involved in oil and gas recovery in the New Plymouth area, has a long association with the sport, both here and in Europe.

Steve Webling has been involved with David Price Racing during a spell in the UK during the 1980’s that saw him working with Brett Riley in F3 and on the original Rover SD1 models in the British Touring Car Championship. When he returned home, Steve was involved with Ed Lamont’s Touring Car programme and also raced himself in Super Saloons and in a Mazda RX7.