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: NZ Circuit | Written by:

Ransley returns to Toyota 86 Championship with big aims

October 18, 2017
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Young Christchurch racer Jaden Ransley has big plans for his return to the Toyota 86 Championship. Ransley was just 14…
Category: Rally | Written by:

Motorsport mecca hosts offroad racing national finals

October 18, 2017
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Nelson’s reputation as a motorsport mecca takes a step forward this weekend as the assembled might of the offroad racing…
Category: Single Seater | Written by:

Armstrong tightens grip on Italian F4 champs

October 8, 2017
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A triple podium finish at the penultimate round has propelled Christchurch driver Marcus Armstrong closer to the Italian Formula 4…
Category: Single Seater | Written by:

Armstrong on the podium at Mugello, title in sight

October 8, 2017
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Marcus Armstrong extends his points lead and draws closer to the Italian Formula 4 title with a share of pole…
Category: Single Seater | Written by:

Brendon Leitch first signing for Castrol Toyota Racing Series 2018

October 2, 2017
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Invercargill race driver Brendon Leitch, 21, is the first signing for the coming Castrol Toyota Racing Series. The championship, which…
Category: Single Seater | Written by:

Toyota Racing New Zealand opens new headquarters at Hampton Downs

October 2, 2017
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With a formal ceremony this morning, Toyota Racing New Zealand has officially opened its new purpose built headquarters at the…
Category: Single Seater | Written by:

Toyota Racing New Zealand appoints Nico Caillol as TRS category co-manager

October 2, 2017
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Motorsport engineer Nicolas Caillol has been named co-manager of the Toyota Racing Series. The appointment fills the final major position…
Category: Rally | Written by:

Race trucks take top points in offroad racing final round at Raglan

October 1, 2017
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Three race truck teams have taken the maximum 72 points by winning all their heats at the last North Island…
Category: Rally | Written by:

North-south offroad racing rivalry heats up at Raglan

September 28, 2017
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Leading northern racers in the 2017 Polaris New Zealand Offroad Championship are going from snow, sleet and borderline hypothermia to…
Category: NZ Circuit | Written by:

CareVets to the fore as racers grid up for Toyota 86 Championship

September 25, 2017
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Eleven race drivers have already stepped up for the 2017-2018 Toyota 86 Championship, which starts in early November at the…