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The Piastri effect: A new era for Australian motorsport?

Australian motorsport endured tough years through the depths of Covid-19 but is now positioning for growth as it catches the tailwind of Oscar Piastri's success in Formula One. Melbourne native Piastri helped McLaren win last year's constructors' championship with teammate Lando Norris and is now favourite to win a maiden drivers' title after back-to-back wins in the Middle East. Piastri's blistering start has thrilled his home nation but some of the biggest cheers may be heard at the offices of governing body Motorsport Australia (MA). 'It's transformational. If Oscar, through his work and capability and talent, wins the Formula One world championship this year, it will be hugely significant for motorsport in Australia,' MA CEO Sunil Vohra told Reuters on Thursday. 'Because the kids are interested in motorsport, because they know about it, they see what Oscar is doing, they read the headlines ... having Oscar on the grid in Formula One is enormously beneficial to that.' MA, which runs events and develops driver pathways from grassroots to elite levels, recorded a slender surplus of A$16,712 (R199,404) for the 2024 calendar year in its financial report released on Thursday, a big turnaround from the previous year's net deficit of A$1,060,928 (R12.65m). While the improved result is less about Piastri and more about a mix of cost-cutting and better financial management, Vohra says MA is positioned for growth as the 24-year-old's rising profile drives engagement and participation rates. 'There is a direct correlation to the success of Australians on the international stage with awareness and interest uplift in the broader motorsport community,' Vohra said. 'We see it play out through our development programmes like our 'Come and Try' programmes which are often oversubscribed through our clubs, and that's across all disciplines. "(Oscar) is a product of motorsport in Australia, and he shows what is possible from the Australian system, from karting to four-wheel, all the way through to the global stage. 'He's an extraordinary asset in that regard. And yes, we are already priming ourselves for how we can help that increased interest be translated into engaging and participating.'