As Jack Hawkeswood sailed to his fourth maximum points weekend of the season at the Rally Bay of Plenty to underline his own championship success, he and co-driver Jason Farmer delivered another highly significant moment in the sport in New Zealand.
Toyota has been a major brand in New Zealand for decades and examples from its range have long competed in the domestic rally championship. It also recently secured the World Rally Championship title for a record-equalling tenth time. But last weekend marked Toyota’s first ever New Zealand manufacturer title.
“It is a significant moment for Toyota and for the motorsport programme here in New Zealand,” explained GAZOO Racing New Zealand manager Nicolas Caillol. “And it comes at an appropriate time for the brand in New Zealand motorsport .
“We are obviously known for our circuit racing with the Toyota 86 categories and of course the international single seater series, but the new GR Yaris Rally Cup heralds another important new chapter in the brand’s story here.
“Jack’s championship title and Toyota’s first manufacturer title mark success at the high performance end of the marketplace, but at the grassroots level, the GR Yaris Rally Cup will give the opportunity for a new generation of talented young drivers and co-drivers to shine and provide a career boost that could take them to success domestically or ultimately perhaps even internationally.
“With that era upon us, as a brand we could not have asked for a better way to begin it than our first manufacturer title. It signals our intent to help find New Zealand’s next rallying legend and perhaps even our first rally world champion.
Modelled after internationally recognized series such as the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Iberian Cup in Spain, GR Yaris Rally Cup Italy, the TOYOTA Yaris Cup Czech Republic, and Japan’s TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Morizo Challenge Cup.
The newly introduced one-make championship for the AWD GR Yaris will provide New Zealand’s rally drivers with a highly competitive and well-regulated platform as part of the New Zealand Rally Championship.
The category is endorsed by GAZOO Racing New Zealand is designed to further develop emerging rally talent.
Beginning next season, the series will feature six rounds designed for competitors to hone their skills across a variety of surfaces. Participants will also benefit from extensive media coverage and digital broadcast exposure, which supports sponsor engagement at both driver and team levels.
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