2011 Toyota Racing Series Calendar

The Toyota Racing Series will continue a five-round National Championship calendar in 2011 including the successful ‘Tasman Series’ concept that incorporates a ‘series-within-a-series’ four-round International Championship over five weeks during January and February.

Round 1: 14-16 January, 2011 Teretonga Park, Invercargill
Spirit of a Nation

Round 2: 21-23 January, 2011 Timaru International Raceway, Timaru
Timaru Herald Trophy

Round 3: 4-6 February, 2011 Hampton Downs, Auckland
New Zealand Motor Cup

Round 4: 11-13 February, 2011 Manfeild, Feilding
NZ Grand Prix (along with the Dan Higgins Trophy and Dorothy Smith Memorial Cup) 

Round 5: 18-20 March, 2011 Taupo Motor Racing Circuit, Taupo
Denny Hulme Memorial Trophy

The TRS Championship consists of 15 races contested over 5 rounds.

Round 1–4 make up the International Series.

TRS race weekends feature test sessions Thursday (selected rounds) and Friday, qualifying Saturday morning, race one Saturday afternoon and Races two and three (one of these a longer feature race) on Sunday.

The Toyota New Zealand Grand Prix is 35laps ‐100kms race distance.  One of only two FIA Grand Prix outside of Formula One.

The Toyota Racing Series

Above – poster promoting the first Toyota Racing Series in 2004.

Heading into its seventh season as New Zealand’s premier category, Toyota Racing Series is as exciting, fast and closely fought as ever.

The only class in New Zealand motorsport that offers aspiring racers vital experience with wings, slicks and composite technologies, TRS is Toyota’s commitment to nurturing our next generation of top level racing talent.

No other manufacturer has made the same long term commitment to motorsport as Toyota. The TRS is a National Championship and drivers in the series compete for every major title and trophy in the sport. The series attracts Premier Gold Star status along with the New Zealand Grand Prix title, one of only two FIA-sanctioned Grand Prix race events outside of Formula One.

TRS not only gives a huge boost to single-seater racing in New Zealand, it attracts rising stars from the northern hemisphere to gain valuable off-season experience in internationally-relevant race cars. The overseas drivers, who mainly focus on the three-race international “series within a series”, value the chance to compete during the northern winter and to perhaps make a name for themselves while their rivals wait out the winter chill.

Not only is the series New Zealand’s premier open-wheeler category and the focus of the New Zealand Grand Prix, it has now come of age as the final step for local drivers heading offshore to prove themselves internationally. With the sensational success of TRS graduates Brendan Hartley and Earl Bamber, the career path is proven.

High performance on and off the track

The cars are state of the art. A purpose-built monocoque carbon fibre chassis and sealed 1.8-litre in-line four-cylinder engines; full aerodynamic effect from an advanced package of wings and sidepods; identical wheels, tyres and suspension parts. The control of these elements makes for the closest possible racing and puts the emphasis on true driving ability under all conditions. TRS is the only category that offers aspiring drivers the chance to gain invaluable experience in open-wheel driving, aerodynamics and slick tyres right here in New Zealand without having to go overseas prematurely or needing a big budget.

A fantastic stepping stone to all international single-seater classes

These cars lap New Zealand circuits more than six seconds faster than Formula Ford and faster than an NZV8. But that’s not enough to make the category a success. Backing the cars is a series that is very professionally run and supported by New Zealand’s leading car brand, Toyota. A level of investment unmatched by any other manufacturer demonstrates Toyota’s commitment to finding the next generation of racers and giving them the best possible stepping stone to the next level of their careers.

The works

Toyota’s support for the only manufacturer-based single seater class in New Zealand extends to the most advanced trackside pit and hospitality facilities in the country. It’s a paddock presence that supports both race teams and their sponsors. The travelling F1-style set-up features a paddock area and marquee bay so each competitor works in a self-contained, professional environment alongside other race teams.