Christchurch driver Andy Knight was named champion of the season also winning the historic New Zealand Motor Cup and the New Zealand Grand Prix. Key prizes for the series win include the Chris Amon Trophy and the Chris Amon Scholarship fund to assist in furthering his international single seater opportunities and exposure.

 

This year’s championship featured seven rounds including races for two of New Zealand’s most prestigious trophies, the Lady Wigram Trophy Race in Christchurch early in January and the New Zealand Grand Prix one week later at Manfeild. The series also raced as part of the programme at the A1GP World Cup Of Motorsport event at Taupo in January and a championship trophy race was held as part of the inaugural V8 Supercar event in Hamilton in April – the first time the TRS cars had raced on a street circuit.

 

The series win came down to the final race of the season and even to the last corner of that race at Teretonga, Invercargill, with Christchurch-based Knight in his Milwaukee Toyota race car fighting off a strong challenge from his key rival, Wanganui’s Earl Bamber who, just 17 years is the youngest driver ever to win the prestigious Lady Wigram Trophy.

 

TRS now having completed its fourth season is the only class in New Zealand motorsport that offers aspiring racers vital experience with wings, slicks and composite technologies.

 

This year’s championship attracted international racers from Australia, Iceland and the USA.

 

Toyota New Zealand General Manager Finance John Fowke said,  “This year we had the closest ever finish to the Toyota Racing Series, and from the first race at Pukekohe in November to the finale at Invercargill in March the field throughout was the most competitive in the four year history of TRS.  Having international drivers including former Bathurst 1000 winner and V8 Supercar driver Jason Bargwanna contest the series and International Teams such as Carlin Motorsport in the UK send drivers here to gain experience speaks volumes about the respect the series has gained internationally.”

 

He said planning is already underway for the 2009 season with strong interest from exciting new entrants.