Toyota Racing Series

Mark Baker

The Toyota Racing Series is New Zealand's premier "open-wheeler" motorsport category. New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island The Series includes races for every major trophy in New Zealand circuit racing including the Lady Wigram Trophy, the New Zealand Motor Cup and the Denny Hulme Memorial Trophy. The cars are also the category for the New Zealand Grand Prix - one of only two races in the world with FIA approval to use the Grand Prix nomenclature outside Formula One. The New Zealand Grand Prix is an annual Motor racing event held in New Zealand since 1950

An incubator and showcase for the next generations of New Zealand racing talent, the Series offers emerging drivers the chance to gain valuable experience with carbon-fibre composite chassis, aerodynamics and slick tyres.

The cars use modified versions of Toyota four cylinder production engines, a six speed Sadev transmission with limited slip differential and a chassis built by Tatuus in Italy to full FIA F3 specification. (pronounced) is a Multinational corporation headquartered in Japan, and is currently the world's largest Automaker.

Previously, the country's leading drivers had to go offshore to step up to this level.

For 2008, the series has also gone "green". Fuels for all cars racing in the series are now an E85 biofuel blend of 85 per cent ethanol made from whey, a dairy industry by-product; and petrol. Reduced emissions, reduced carbon "footprint" and reduced use of fossil fuels are all being showcased in this unique New Zealand programme. The 2008 New Zealand Grand Prix thus becomes the first ever biofuel grand prix in the world.

The Series has the full endorsement of Motorsport New Zealand, the sport's governing body.

Most high profile graduate from the series to date is Brendon Hartley, now signed to race Formula Three for the respected Carlin Motorsport team in the UK. Career Hartley was born in a family well integrated within motorsport Formula Three, also called Formula 3 or F3, is a class of open-wheel formula racing. Carlin Motorsport is a Motor racing team based in the United Kingdom.

Circuits

External links

Toyota Racing Series

Although Pukekohe Park Raceway is better known internationally as a Motor racing circuit it is primarily a Horse racing circuit in New Zealand. Powerbuilt Raceway at Ruapuna Park is a permanent Motor racing circuit owned by Canterbury Car Club Inc Taupo Motorsport Park (also known as the Taupo Race Track) is a motorsports circuit located in Broadlands Road Taupo, New Zealand. The Manfeild Autocourse was built by the Manawatu Car Club in 1973 as a purpose built course Timaru International Motor Raceway is a Motor racing circuit situated about 10 minutes or 8km outside of Timaru, New Zealand. Teretonga (means "Swift South" in Maori is a motor racing circuit situated 8km south-west of Invercargill, New Zealand. Hamilton Street Circuit is a temporary street circuit in Hamilton New Zealand as part of the V8 Supercars championship

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