Author Profile

Mark Baker has been working in automotive PR and communications for more than two decades. For much longer than that he has been a motorsport journalist, photographer and competitor, witness to most of the most exciting and significant motorsport trends and events of the mid-late 20th Century. His earliest memories of motorsport were trips to races at Ohakea in the early 1960s, and later of annual summer pilgrimages to watch Shellsport racers and Mini 7s at Bay Park and winter sorties into forests around Kawerau and Rotorua to see the likes of Russell Brookes, Ari Vatanen and Mike Marshall ply their trade in group 4 Escorts. Together with Murray Taylor and TV producer/director Dave Hedge he has been responsible for helping to build New Zealand’s unique Toyota Racing Series into a globally recognized event brand under category managers Barrie and Louise Thomlinson. Now working for a variety of automotive and mainstream commercial clients, Mark has a unique perspective on recent motor racing history and the future career paths of our best and brightest young racers.

Latest Posts:
Category: Featured, Rally | Written by:

Optimist, pessimist or red mist?

December 15, 2018
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December, long after the traditional silly season, and until this week there was little to be cheerful about for our…
Category: Featured, Single Seater | Written by:

The rumour mill grinds on

December 10, 2018
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The 2019 Castrol Toyota Racing Series looks set to return to the spectacular glory days that were interrupted by this…
Category: Featured, Single Seater | Written by:

Lightning strikes: Formula E considers Auckland event

December 7, 2018
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The waterfront is buzzing with the prospect that the futuristic cars of all-electric Formula E Series could soon be seen…
Category: Featured, Single Seater | Written by:

Lawson shines bright

November 30, 2018
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The Castrol Toyota Racing Series has confirmed its worst kept secret – the commitment of quick Pukekohe teen Liam Lawson…
Category: Featured, Single Seater | Written by:

Prema for Armstrong? 2019 plans slowly take shape

November 23, 2018
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Meanwhile ‘our’ F3 star Marcus Armstrong may stick with Prema for 2019 and if so is likely to join Robert…
Category: Featured, Single Seater | Written by:

Sausage saviour: the worst crash, the best outcome

November 23, 2018
TalkMotorsport Long Read Length LONG READ

Luck is a subjective term but the presence of a ‘blue sausage’ was clearly lucky for Floersch in her incredible…
Category: Featured, NZ Circuit | Written by:

Look back in history Sunday: Cassidy wins on debut in TR86 Champs (2014)

November 18, 2018
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This week we look back to 2014 and a younger Nick Cassidy makes his debut in the TR86 Champs at…
Category: F1, Single Seater | Written by:

Teddy Yip, the man who made Macau’s Grand Prix

November 16, 2018
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Gambling, motor racing, princes and playboys: Macau has always summarised the mystery and glamour of the East. As an ‘open…
Category: Featured, Single Seater | Written by:

Clash of Titans at Macau GP

November 16, 2018
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Luck comes in threes   This weekend’ s Macau Grand Prix will be historic for a number of reasons, not…
Category: Featured, Single Seater | Written by:

Look back in history Sunday: Bamber takes clean sweep at Hamilton 400 (2008)

November 4, 2018
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This week we look back in history to the Hamilton 400 street race and the Toyota Racing Series round which…