International newcomer

Birth date: 12 May 1992

Home town:  Brasilia

Team: Giles Motorsport

Team Principal: Stephen Giles

Engineer:           

Sponsors: GLCV Participacoes S/A

Website: http://lucasforesti.com.br/

The late inclusion of South American driver Lucas Foresti in the Giles Motorsport line-up brings the total number of drivers that have competed in TRS during the last four seasons (there were no International competitors in the inaugural 2005 TRS season) to twenty, which is an impressive achievement for the Toyota New Zealand initiative.

Lucas is exactly the young, ambitious  and talented type  of driver that TRS seeks to attract from overseas. Like so many other talented South Americans, his goal is Europe – and eventually Formula 1. He see New Zealand as an opportunity to gain valuable track experience in the lead up to a season of Formula 3 in either Britain or Europe.

His passion for speed began at just four years of age when he acquired a small moto cross bike and began to develop his skills on two wheels. His father Victor Foresti had been a moto cross champion and eventually Lucas convinced him to be allowed to run in endurance events and he acquired a 250cc Yamaha. He enjoyed considerable success up until he crashed fracturing two ribs, his collarbone and shoulder.  His father sold the bike and banned Lucas from running in the category.

A switch to karting was encouraged by an uncle.

 In 2007 Lucas won four of the of the most important  Brazilian State titles in karting  and began to prepare for graduation to single seaters by signing up with a leading Brazilian team and undertaking 1,000 training laps at the Autodromo Nelson Piquet in Brasilia.

In 2009, Lucas competed in Brazilian Formula 3 but the highlight of the year was a strong showing in a one-off Formula BMW drive during the Brazilian Grand Prix weekend.

The winner of the 1982 New Zealand Grand Prix and popular racing personality  Roberto Moreno, is now guiding the career development of Lucas and 28 years on the Brazilian veteran of 75 F1 races and many Champcar and IRL campaigns plans to be at the 2010 New Zealand Grand Prix with his young protégé.

Lucas is currently in Europe finalising plans to race there in Formula 3 this season. He will fly in directly from Europe and for the two South Island races will be accompanied by Greg Siddle, the Australian who has had a long association with both Moreno and Nelson Piquet. Siddle currently manages the career of the 2009 A1GP Champion, Irishman Adam Carroll.