WHERE better to stage an ultimate challenge for future stars chasing a place in the premier motorsport class than at the ultimate circuit for the category?

That’s the thinking that will see leading competitors from the cut and thrust world of kart sport at Manfeild on Friday.

The teenaged talents are here for a test session to select a driver to race a Toyota Racing Series’ Lites car at a round of next summer’s championship.

They achieved the chance to chase the Toyota Fast Track Award through their stellar performances at the TRS-backed national kart sprint championships at Hamilton at Easter.

The award contenders are: Richard Moore, 18, Auckland (national open champion); Alex Geary, 17, New Plymouth (national Yamaha light champion); Graeme Smyth, 18, Auckland (national KZ2 champion); Tim Vickers, 17, Auckland; Tyler Richardson, 17, Morrinsville.

Manfeild Park Trust chief executive Heather Verry said it was fitting the finalists should come here.

“Manfeild is considered the home of the TRS class and is also the present host track for the category’s ultimate event, the New Zealand Grand Prix.

“There’s a lot of history here. When they’re driving a TRS car at Manfeild, they are literally driving in the wheel tracks of the country’s best drivers, competing for the country’s best motorsport prize.

“This is a very exciting opportunity for these young talents of motorsport.”

Many of racing’s brightest and best started out in karts, Mrs Verry reminded, including Palmerston North’s Brendon Hartley, a ‘son of Manfeild’ recently taken on as the official test driver for the Red Bull and Toro Rosso Formula One teams.

Others include Earl Bamber, this season’s A1GP driver, and two stars of the United States’ motorsport scene, Scott Dixon and Wade Cunningham.

“Kiwis are at the top of the motorsport world, and I’m sure this is an impetus for up-and-comers to succeed,” Mrs Verry said.

“The Monaco Formula One Grand Prix and the Indianapolis 500 were both held on Monday, and we had Brendon at one, and Scott competing at the other, while Wade raced in the Indy Lights support event at Indy.”

TRS Lites is a new ‘class-within-a-class’ created to ease the transition from karts or other racing categories to TRS.

The cars use the same carbon-fibre chassis and 1.8 litre Toyota engine but have less power – 111kW compared to the 166kW of the cars that compete in the main series.

The test day is a joint initiative between KartSport New Zealand and Palmerston North-based Toyota New Zealand.

Editors: Photographers and reporters are welcome to attend this session. Please come to the race circuit, park appropriately and register at the TRS motorhome.

The awards programme drive schedule comprises a series of timed sessions during the day, from 9.30am to 3.30pm. The programme is run as part of a general test day, so anyone entering the pits must wear closed footwear. Anyone seeking infield access must first sign an indemnity.

For further information:
Heather Verry,
Chief executive officer,
Manfeild Park Trust.
027 4829 422. ceo@manfeild.co.nz

Barrie Thomlinson,
Toyota Racing Series coordinator,
021 984639.