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Hibiscus Coast resident Olivia Lorenzen is becoming one of New Zealand’s brightest young female motorsport talents. The former Whangaparāoa College student has gone from watching races at Western Springs to competing – and winning – on kart tracks across the country.
Now 18, Olivia is preparing to take the next big step in her racing journey as she moves from karts to cars. After years of success in karting, she’s been awarded the North Island Formula Ford Scholarship Car for the 2025/26 season. The scholarship car is owned by 15 shareholders to give someone an opportunity to get into Formula Ford they may not have had – one that puts her on the same career path taken by Kiwi greats like Scott Dixon, Shane van Gisbergen, and Liam Lawson.
“I’ve always loved speed, competition, and the feeling of being behind the wheel,” Olivia says. “Formula Ford is a huge step forward, and I’m so excited to see how far I can go.”
Over the past 12 months racing her Rotax DD2 (125cc 2 speed kart) Olivia has been supported by NZ’s largest kart racing business Right Karts, Olivia’s results speak for themselves. She finished first in the Top Half Series, Tokoroa Club Champs, and Auckland Club Champs, and second in both the Rotax Max Challenge and NZ National Sprint Championship. This season alone, she’s collected 55 wins across 27 race meetings – an incredible record for a driver still in her teens.
Her rise hasn’t been without challenges. Starting her racing journey in 2019, Olivia’s first full season was interrupted by Covid-19. “I only got to seven meetings before everything stopped,” she says. “By the time racing started again, I’d moved up to Juniors and was suddenly up against drivers who’d been racing since they were 6.”
Despite the steep learning curve, Olivia’s determination has never wavered. Her long-term goal is to race internationally, either in the F1 Academy or GT racing, with Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium being her dream circuit.
Her next milestone, supported by the Right Karts Academy by M2 Competition team, is Round 3 of the North Island Formula Ford Championship at Manfeild Circuit Chris Amon this December and features one of the most famous Formula Ford races, the Dan Higgins 18 lap memorial race. This will prepare her for the New Zealand Formula Ford Championship starting in January 2026, contested across 4 rounds, 2 in the South Island, and 2 in the North Island, before a return to the South Island to be part of the Supercars event in Christchurch.
As she gears up for a full season across the country, Olivia is inviting local businesses and supporters to be part of her journey.
“This is such an exciting time,” she says. “Having the support of local sponsors means I can keep pushing toward my goals – and it’s amazing to represent our community on the national stage.”
To follow Olivia’s journey or discuss sponsorship opportunities, visit Olivia Lorenzen Racing on Facebook or email olivia.racingnz@outlook.com
