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, NZ Circuit | Written by:

Hotbed of talent on show at Pukekohe

November 3, 2018
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Recently retired Toyota Motorsport Manager Steve Boyce could never have imagined the runaway success of his home-grown 86 championship, nor…
Category: Featured, NZ Circuit | Written by:

TR86 success: What’s the secret?

November 2, 2018
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Traditionally, one make series are marketing exercises first and foremost, and they fall over when marketing resources are redirected or…
Category: Rally | Written by:

Strong performance nets Ruiterman national offroad title

October 22, 2018
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Consistent speed, a strong team and the right race car took Pukekohe driver Carl Ruiterman to the 2018 ORANZ Offroad…
Category: Rally | Written by:

Fresh fast challenge faces Offroad races at Championship final

October 18, 2018
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National class and outright titles up for grabs The fastest offroad racers gather in Christchurch this weekend to hammer out…
Category: Single Seater | Written by:

Armstrong’s Herculean effort comes to nothing at Formula 3 finale

October 14, 2018
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Kiwi Marcus Armstrong did everything within his power but the incident packed final round of the 2018 FIA Formula 3…
Category: Featured, Single Seater | Written by:

Drivers eye Macau and New Zealand campaigns

October 12, 2018
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Let’s ask a question: what is the Toyota Racing Series for? So many race fans I talk to are adamant…
Category: F1, Featured | Written by:

Where to now, F1?

October 8, 2018
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Formula 1 may or may not be in the best of health, depending on who you talk to. Massive cost…
Category: F1, Featured | Written by:

Gotterdämerung: bye SKY, it’s been real

October 6, 2018 / 1 comment
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It’s the Gotterdamerung – the Twilight of the Gods. Or is it? News that pay TV broadcaster SKY has somehow…
Category: F1, Featured | Written by:

Sweet dreams are made of this

September 28, 2018
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A tiny chalet at Mangawhai was the venue. A member of the Team New Zealand America’s Cup inner sanctum was…
Category: Featured, Single Seater | Written by:

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

September 23, 2018
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The 2007–08 Toyota Racing Series was the fourth running of the series and a young Earl Bamber was in contention…