SINGAPORE — Andrew Tang flew the Singapore flag high in Feilding, New Zealand, yesterday when he beat an international field of 22 other drivers to land the prestigious Toyota Racing Series (TRS).

Entering the fifth and final round of the series at the 59th New Zealand Grand Prix with a narrow seven-point lead, the 19-year-old’s third-place finish was enough to rake in the points to win the title in a five-way fight.

The Neale Motorsport driver’s feat, in a car decked with Team Singapore colours, broke the 10-year stranglehold Kiwis had on the TRS since it was launched in 2005. His total of 791 points from of 15 races was 11 more than his nearest rival, Britain’s Jann Mardenborough, who finished second in the 35-lap race behind New Zealand’s Nick Cassidy.

The TRS pits some of the best young international drivers gearing up for motor racing’s top leagues and Tang’s title is the highest achieved by a Singapore driver in any competition.

He has come some way after receiving a challenge from Ron Dennis three years ago to measure up, just before the McLaren team principal placed the teenager in the team’s Young Driver Development Programme in July 2012.

But although he has made steady progress since then, especially after switching to open wheel from kart last year, the TRS title was never on his radar. He finished 15th out of 23 drivers last year, five spots behind 2013 Rookie of the Year Mardenborough, and was only targeting a top-five finish this time.

Speaking to TODAY from Feilding, Tang said: “I didn’t think it was possible because the field was very competitive and they have much more experience.

“But when I won the second race in the first round, it lifted my confidence and Andy (team principal Andrew Neale) kept encouraging me to keep my focus, saying I could do it.”

Neale’s guidance was the fuel that drove Tang to two more wins, nine podiums, five fastest laps and one pole along the way.

But the TRS chequered flag only came into view on Saturday, when the Singaporean won the Dan Higgins Memorial Trophy, the first of the final three races that culminated in yesterday’s New Zealand Grand Prix. That final race, won previously by F1 luminaries like Stirling Moss and world champions Jack Brabham, Jackie Stewart and Graham Hill, eluded him but it did not dampen the mood in the team.

A jubilant Neale, who had worked at former F1 outfit BAR Racing and only set up Neale Motorsport last year, said Tang’s talent is coming together.

“Andrew works hard and has learnt a lot in terms of working with engineers and the car, and needs to keep up the momentum with high-level racing,” said the Kiwi, who also worked with Tang in European competitions last year.

“It has been an amazing debut in the TRS for us because it is a competitive series with a lot of drivers aiming to get into F1. If Andrew continues to work hard and keep learning new cars, he’ll get there.”

But racing in the TRS almost did not happen for Tang, let alone winning it. He was due to start National Service in the Singapore Police Force on Feb 4, and a decision was reached to enter him for only four rounds before returning for enlistment.

When it became evident Tang was on the threshold of securing the title, his parents made a last-minute request to allow him to race in the final round, which was granted by the SPF. He will be now be given a new enlistment date when he returns tomorrow.

Singapore Sports Council chief executive Lim Teck Yin paid tribute and said Tang has endured sacrifices that are now beginning to bear fruit.

The sports authorities are also helping the teenager with his development and Lim said: “He worked very hard and has done Singapore proud. He is determined and has great potential and we will sit down with him when he returns and look at the plans that have been mapped out for his future.”

Final standings (top 5):

1. Andrew Tang (Singapore) 791 points

2. Jann Mardenborough (Britain) 780 points

3. Damon Leitch (New Zealand) 708 points

4. Steijn Schothorst (Holland) 632 points

5. Martin Rump (Estonia) 623 points