So, it WAS true – you know, the story that leaked out several months ago now that the Castrol Toyota Racing Series would be an all North Island affair this summer.
At the time I remember thinking that the idea was frankly preposterous (defined as ‘contrary to reason or common sense, utterly absurd or ridiculous’).
Today though, not only am I not so sure; part of me thinks that the short, sharp, three-round/two-circuit series in late January and early February could be just what the Dr. ordered in these strange COVID-19-afflicted times.
As Toyota Gazoo Racing New Zealand General Manager, Andrew Davis said when announcing the new stripped back 2021 calendar.
“With the objective of finding New Zealand’s next world champion, the Castrol Toyota Racing Series (TRS) has become a key fixture on the local and global motorsport calendar. And the 2021 series will again offer the opportunity for young drivers to break through and show their talents to a local and international audience.
“However, because of the current border restrictions and the impact of COVID-19, Toyota Gazoo Racing New Zealand and the race promoters had to make a difficult decision to hold three rounds in the North Island only, instead of five rounds across both islands.
The key here, IMHO (In My Humble Opinion) however, it not the decision itself, it is the reasoning behind it. And the opportunity inherent in it for our cadre of talented but – in most cases cash-strapped up-and-coming young drivers.
This is Davis again, explaining the main reason for cutting the 2021 calendar to suit the current cost ‘cloth.’
“It was to keep the cost of entry as low as possible to encourage as many New Zealand entrants as feasible.
Which will – or at least should be – music to the ears of all the ambitious Dads out there who were effectively left with no final ‘affordable’ local ‘slicks & wings’ single seater category to place their sons (or daughters!) in when – under the previous series management – a decision must have been made to actively recruit the best – and best-funded – young drivers from Europe, the UK, the US and yes, even Australia, for the motorsport equivalent of a 6-week long boot camp.
While through the years our best and brightest young stars have always shone just as brightly – and here I’m thinking specifically of Marcus Armstrong and Liam Lawson though I should also mention brothers Damon and Brendan Leitch, Taylor Cockerton and James Munro, and before them of course, Nick Cassidy, Mitch Cunningham, Mitch Evans and Earl Bamber – for a while there it looked like ‘our’ Toyota Racing Series was anything but.
Therefore, it was encouraging to see Andrew Davis go back to brass tacks- if you like – in the press release announcing the dates, venues, and reasoning behind truncated 2021 series
“The fundamental purpose of the Castrol Toyota Racing Series is to develop our homegrown racing talent. This format gives us the ability to continue to promote and support local talent and bring top class motorsport to the New Zealand public,” he said.
And while, Davis was quick to accept that South Island fans would be ‘disappointed’ (which is one word, I suppose, you could use) he also said that ‘there is every intention to return to the South Island tracks in 2022.’
The first and third rounds of the 2020 TRS will be part of the MotorSport New Zealand Summer Series at Hampton Downs and Manfeild.
The second round, also to be raced at Hampton Downs, will be integrated into the 2021 Toyota Gazoo Racing NZ Festival along with the Best Bars Toyota 86 Championship.
The New Zealand Grand Prix will still be part of the Castrol Toyota Racing Series, but which round is still to be determined.
As it is Toyota had already announced a major – as in half a million dollars major – COVID_19-inspired boost to the Kiwi Driver Fund to help get more young Kiwi drivers into TRS cars in 2021.
The idea is not to throw money at every young fellow or fellow-ess, rather to ss there to supplement what budget a driver might already have been able to raise.
“It has been a year of both extreme and unique circumstances, and the upcoming motorsport season will be no different,” said Andrew Davis when he announced the extra $500K of ‘sponsorship’ support.’
“Our aim is to develop a quality field for this season, and to have a new wave of Kiwi talent back in 2022 when we hope to return to a full and uninterrupted season,” says Andrew.
This funding is a bold step to help young New Zealand motorsport
“The kiwi motorsport talent that we see when testing continues to exceed our expectations,” says Andrew. “We look forward to the upcoming season and seeing more kiwi drivers given the opportunity to compete.”
Which in a funny kind of a way takes me back to Timaru in January 2005 and the first round of the inaugural TRS series eventually won by Brent ‘Bones’ Collins from a field of 16 Kiwis’ and one international (Austrian Walter Grubmuller) which included the likes of runner-up Andy Knight form Christchurch, a very young Brendon Hartley from Palmerston North who was third and Daniel Gaunt who was fourth.
That year the field was 99% resident Kiwi and it is worth remembering, too, that for the next nine seasons the annual TRS was won by a Kiwi; Singaporean Andrew Tang the first overseas driver to claim the series title in 2014.
2021 Castrol Toyota Racing Series dates
Rnd 1: Hampton Downs, 22nd – 24th January
Rnd 2: Hampton Downs, 28th – 30th January
Rnd 3: Manfeild, 12th – 14th February
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