What brings drivers down-under? Why TRS?

| Photographer Credit: Bruce Jenkins

Geography was never of interest to me at school but I’ve always thoroughly enjoyed travel, either within NZ or overseas.  Most of it has been work related which has included a number of trips to Europe.  What intrigued me on my first opportunity to travel to the continent was just how far it is to make the journey!  It is a long time on a plane!  This begs the reciprocal question, ‘Why do people want to travel down-under to come to this part of the world?’

 

Last Friday’s Press Conference at Hampton Downs for the 2019 Castrol Toyota Racing Series will be noted for the absence of conversation around that ‘bizarre race’.  Four drivers were in attendance straight after an incident-filled running of the postponed second race from the previous weekend at Teretonga Park in Invercargill.  Two races had been cancelled at the second round due to expected high winds.

Russian Artem Petrov survived a race packed with incident, Safety Cars and three red flags to win his first TRS race. Drivers’ Calan Williams (Australia) Cameron Das (USA) Marcus Armstrong(NZ) and Dev Gore (USA) were in attendance at the Press Conference, fresh from racing and not knowing the result which eventually was confirmed later that night.

 

At such a young age, like professionals, all four skirted around what had just happened, not wanting to talk about it or to voice their opinion.  In fact, you would have got better quotes from the current Formula One driver’s fresh from a race.

 

Once the general line of questioning was finished broadcaster and Series commentator Jonathon Green asked: ‘Why TRS?’

 

Dev Gore who will be competing in the 2019 USF2000 Series was the first to answer.

“Racing will always be more valuable than testing. It’s about progressing with everybody else and this championship, competitive as it is, I could find myself racing against other drivers’ in the coming year and it is good to see where you stack up with the competition.”

 

The led to the next question from Murray Taylor, “Do you look at the car, the callibre of the championship or the drivers doing the championship?”

 

Gore answered, “The car is the least of those three, anyone who considers them selves a professional racing driver should be able to jump in anything and drive it quick.  I’m of the opinion that the key factor is where the highest competition will be in a series that is doable.”

 

Marcus Armstrong also gave his opinion, “Firstly this is home so it is easy to be here.  I enjoy it, the people are really cool, its like Europe coming to NZ.  The car is not so far away from what we will be competing with and the competition is good as well.  I was actually looking forward to (Daniel) Ticktum coming down but he didn’t decide to do it in the end.”

 

Ticktum had raced against Armstrong in the 2018 FIA Formula 3 European Championship, finishing runner-up to Mick Schumacher.  In his pursuit of five Super Licence points to top up the 35 he already had, Ticktum chose to race in the Asian F3 Winter Series held at the same time as TRS.  Forty points would give him the ‘ticket’ to compete in F1 should an opportunity arise.  However, in the 2/3 rounds held so far he is eighth overall in a series that is now unlikely to receive any Super Licnce points.

 

Taylor expanded on this point, “He (Ticktum) had choices, you all had choices…what was your thinking about that?”

Armstrong replied, “To be fair, my decision had always been made.  If it was up to me I would invite Lewis Hamilton to race as well.  We might as well race against the best as that is the only way we are going to progress at any high rate.  It is fun here and great to race.”

 

Taylor then asked Cameron Das, “Is it the drivers that you want to race against or is it the championship?”

Das replied,”The calibre of drivers is a huge factor as that is what you measure yourself against going into the next season and it is how you improve.  A reliable car is important as this car has proved.  The speed of the car is not really a factor as Dev (Gore) already said.”

Calan Williams had a different take on it, “When deciding a series to choose, one of the big things is finding a competitive series with a car that replicates what I am hoping to drive in the future as I progress.  Also finding a good team that will help improve young drivers, not just about business.  Also the competitiveness of a series is very important although some drivers don’t sign up until the last moment.  It is all about preparing for the future, thinking forward and working back from your goal.”

 

While reasons for TRS vary, the common thread from these four is about the competition and how it prepares them for their year ahead and reaching their ultimate goals.  Now in its 15th season, TRS has for some time a reputation for a top car, competitive drivers, five different tracks and a whole lot of testing and racing.  The travel distance to New Zealand doesn’t matter for any of these drivers!

Benjamin Carrell is a freelance motorsport writer and currently edits talkmotorsport.co.nz. He writes for a number of Kiwi drivers and motorsport clubs. That's when he's not working in his horticultural day-job or training for the next road or mtb cycle race!

https://talkmotorsport.co.nz

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