Scholarship winner got a head start on bikes | Rotorua Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Rotorua

Hayden Pedersen has concussion to thank for his rise in motorsport.

If he hadn't kept on crashing at motocross, he would be speeding along a different track.

As it is, Hayden is now on the grid to follow in his idols' footsteps and race to victory.

The 15-year-old Western Heights High School year 11 student won the 2010 SpeedSport Scholarship at Manfeild, a feat accomplished by V8 Supercars driver Shane van Gisbergen at the start of his career.

It means an all-expenses-paid drive in the 2010-11 New Zealand Formula First single-seater motor racing championship, as well as a customised driving suit from Chicane Clothing and an Arai helmet from New Zealand importer Dold Industries.

"I want to buy another bike to play around on but I'll never ride it competitively," Hayden says.

"I really enjoy my car racing.

"I got six concussions during motocross and had one big crash. The doctor said if I had another within 12 months, I could get seriously hurt, so I stopped and decided to get into karting instead."

The move was a wise one. Within 10 months, he had achieved two New Zealand third placings and advanced into other motorsport.

He is now racing in the New Zealand Formula First winter series and the scholarship means he also has a seat in the summer series starting in October.

On top of that racing, he has a Mustang he races at Taupo and has reached speeds of 260km/h.

He was among 15 drivers hopeful of scoring the scholarship. He said despite the prize on offer, he wasn't feeling too nervous.

"But I didn't want to go and not win. I didn't think I was that good but it was awesome to win it.

"I kept going over the track and would say in my head where I had to turn and where I had to brake and I just went faster and faster."

He had to drive laps of the scholarship track at Manfeild. They got taken on a drive around first and had to memorise each turn.

Times were posted on a board and each driver knew what time they had to beat to keep the scholarship within reach. After the first day, eight drivers were sent home.

As well as the laps, the judges were looking for presentation and Hayden had to show he had goals.

He has his sights set on top gear. His main goal is a spot on a Nascar team in the US, and he hopes to get a shot at V8 Supercars on the way there.

"I want to do what Shane van Gisbergen has done and then make the move to Nascar. If I made it that far, I would be super happy. He was one of the youngest to get into the V8s and he also won this scholarship."

He happily admits that driving skill is only half of the battle. To get a chance to race in the V8s, Supercars requires bankrolling to the tune of $250,000 but most teams have a budget of at least $1 million.

At the moment, his racing costs $50,000 a year. To make the next step, he can expect that amount to double.

"To get the summer series scholarship is great. It helps with the money and has got my name out there. It's hard but it's not impossible."

 * Hayden competes this weekend in the New Zealand Formula First winter series at Manfeild.