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:

Have we reached Peak Kiwi?

July 20, 2018
TalkMotorsport Long Read Length LONG READ

As the annual driver recruitment phase begins over at Toyota Racing New Zealand, there is a tense atmosphere out in…
Category: Rally | Written by:

Nelson forests ready for racing onslaught

July 18, 2018
TalkMotorsport Medium Read Length MEDIUM READ

Defending New Zealand Offroad Endurance Champion Ben Thomasen has a fight on his hands this weekend in Nelson. The fast…
Category: Featured, Single Seater | Written by:

The road to glory

July 6, 2018 / 1 comment
TalkMotorsport Long Read Length LONG READ

It’s a housing estate, baking in the relentless heat of the tropical sun and 34 degree days with 100 per…
Category: Single Seater | Written by:

Armstrong takes pole in F3 fightback at Norisring

June 23, 2018
TalkMotorsport Medium Read Length MEDIUM READ

Marcus Armstrong has taken pole in qualifying for this weekend’s third round of the 2018 FIA Formula 3 Europe championship….
Category: Featured, Single Seater | Written by:

Careful on that ladder Eugene, she’s a tad broke

June 22, 2018
TalkMotorsport Long Read Length LONG READ

The 2019 Castrol Toyota Racing Series will return to Highlands Motorsport Park in the South Island and will not start…
Category: Rally | Written by:

Northern Offroad raider extends southern championship lead

June 19, 2018
TalkMotorsport Long Read Length LONG READ

Aucklander John Morgan may have seen victory in Sunday’s endurance race evaporate like the fumes in his fuel tank on…
Category: F1, Featured, Single Seater | Written by:

How to be top

June 13, 2018
TalkMotorsport Long Read Length LONG READ

New Zealand race fans love to reminisce about the years when we had a ‘Trio at the top’. For decades,…
Category: NZ Circuit | Written by:

It’s official – Crighton and Hedge win CareVets Toyota 86 Scholarship

May 2, 2018
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Arran Crighton and Callum Hedge are the 2018-2019 CareVets Toyota 86 Scholarship winners and will race for the team over…
Category: NZ Circuit | Written by:

Carevets Toyota 86 Scholarship will test the best on Monday

April 27, 2018
TalkMotorsport Short Read Length SHORT READ

A record number of 15 rising race drivers will do battle for two prized seats in the 2018-2019 Toyota 86…
Category: Rally | Written by:

Hall controls Offroad Racing Championship

April 23, 2018
TalkMotorsport Long Read Length LONG READ

Local racer Nick Hall has taken control of the 2018 ORANZ New Zealand Offroad Racing Championship after round two at…