Hayden Pedersen from Rotorua is the latest winner of the annual SpeedSport magazine motor racing Scholarship.

The 15-year-old is one of the country’s top young karters.  The Year 11 student at Rotorua’s Western Heights High School beat six other finalists on the second day of evaluation at the Manfeild motor racing circuit.

Hayden wins an all-expenses-paid drive in the 2010/11 New Zealand Formula First single-seater ng championship as well as a driving suit from Chicane Clothing and an Arai helmet from New Zealand importer Dold Industries.

Pedersen is the tenth winner of the annual scholarship.

Previous winners include V8 Supercar championship star Shane van Gisbergen and 2009 MTA New Zealand Formula Ford champion Ritchie Stanaway.

Runner-up this year was 15-year-old Waiuku schoolboy Cory Holmes, son of well-known rally driver Stumpy Holmes.

He will receive a fully-paid drive in a round of the Manfeild circuit Winter Formula First series courtesy of Toyota.

Six of the nine previous Speedsport Scholarship winners have gone on to compete in the Toyota Racing Series.

Pedersen has already tested a TRS car, having taken part in an introductory session held at Taupo earlier this year.

This year’s Scholarship attracted 15 young contenders from around New Zealand and Daniel Plummer from Australia.

With Pedersen and Holmes, Plummer was one of the seven finalists. The others were Jaden Hardy from Palmerston North, James Penrose from North Loburn near Rangiora, Andrew Patterson from Gisborne and Andy Schofield from Cambridge.

After receiving his Pedersen said; “I’m so excited. I can’t wait to get to the first race.”

SpeedSport magazine publisher and editor Grant McDonald was impressed with the standard of all the drivers.

“It’s never easy but each year it seems to get harder and this year was no exception. In fact in terms of lap times it was the closest I can recall.”

Previous Winners

Nic Jordan 2001 – 02 
2001 NZ Formula First championship, 2001-02 season, Rookie of the Year.
2002 NZ Formula First championship, 2002-03 season.
2003 Formula 3 Lady Wigram Trophy race – became world’s youngest Formula 3 driver to date.
2004 Australian Formula 3 Championship. Trophy Class Champion, Rookie of the Year.
2007 NZ Toyota Racing Series
2008 NZ Toyota Racing Series

Joshua Hart 2002 – 03 
2002 NZ Formula First championship, 2002-03 season, Rookie of the Year.
2003 NZ Formula First championship, 2002-03 season.
2008 Professional kart racer, Europe
2009 Rotax Max European championship.

Mark Russ 2003 – 04 
2003 NZ Formula First championship, 2003-04 season, Rookie of the Year.
2004 NZ Formula First championship, 2004-05 season. NZ Champion.
2007 Toyota Racing Series
2008 NZ Porsche GT3
2009 NZ Porsche GT3 championship

Shane van Gisbergen 2004 – 05 
2004 NZ Formula First championship, 2004-05 season, Rookie of the Year.
2005 NZ Formula Ford championship, 2005-06 season. NZ Champion.
2006 NZ Toyota Racing Series, 2005-2006 season. International series winner.
2007 V8 Supercars, Australia TKR
2008 V8 Supercars, Australia SBR
2009 V8 Supercars, Australia SBR
2010 V8 Supercars, Australia SBR

Andrew Waite 2005 – 06 
2005 NZ Formula First championship, 2005-06 season, Rookie of the Year.
2006 NZ Formula Ford championship, 2006-07 season.
2007 NZ Formula Ford championship, 2007-08 season.
2009 Races in Australian Formula Ford Championship & NZ Toyota Racing Series
2010 NZ Toyota Racing Series

Alastair Wootten 2006 – 07 
2007 NZ Formula First championship, 2006-07 season, Rookie of the Year.
2008 NZ Formula Ford championship, 2007-08 season.
2009 NZ Toyota Racing Series
2010 NZ Toyota Racing Series

Richie Stanaway 2007 – 08 
2008 NZ Formula First championship, 2007-08 season, Rookie of the Year.
2009 NZ Formula Ford championship, 2008-09 season.�NZ Champion.
2009 NZ Toyota Racing Series, Hamilton street race: pole and both race wins on debut
2009 Australian Formula Ford championship
2010 NZ Toyota Racing Series
2010 ADAC Formula Masters Championship, Germany

Nick Cassidy 2008 – 09 
2008 NZ Formula First championship, 2008-09 season.
2009 NZ Formula Ford championship.
2010 season. 2nd NZ Championship. 6 from 7 features wins (debut season) Speedway Midget Car B-Grade, Western Springs.

Aaron Hodgson 2009 – 10
2009 NZ Formula First championship,
2010 season. 2nd NZ Championship. Rookie of Year