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

The Manfeild circuit near Palmerston North is confirmed as the home of the New Zealand Grand Prix until 2014 and the prestigious FIA International calendar race will be the highlight of the seventh TRS season.

“This early confirmation of the 2011calendar dates by MotorSport New Zealand means we can continue to develop the International reputation of New Zealand single-seater, open-wheeled racing at the highest level, said TRS Category Manager Barrie Thomlinson.

“Maintaining the Grand Prix as the final round of our International Series will again provide a fantastic finale and a draw card for overseas competitors. We are committed to attracting quality international drivers to ensure competitive opposition for our own talented New Zealand drivers.”

Thomlinson said the 2010 season provided valuable preparation for recent TRS graduates, including kiwi drivers Mitch Evans and Richie Stanaway and visiting overseas drivers like Sten Pentus from Estonia and Lucas Foresti from Brazil.

“Their performances to date in their respective overseas championships this year underline the benefits of being able to test, qualify and start twelve races concentrated into just five weeks at the beginning of the year. Our TRS International season is a better alternative than pre-season testing in less than ideal conditions in Europe.”

“Last season drivers competing in the full season covered on average 2,500km during the five-round season, which included eleven test days and 15 races. Our international guests completed an average of 2,000km over the four-round International Series; twelve races and nine days of testing.”

Thomlinson said confirmation of the New Zealand Grand Prix at Manfeild would ensure continuity for the TRS ‘New Year’ format and was a fitting reward for Toyota’s commitment to the annual series.

“We are now actively seeking overseas drivers for our 2011 season and look to build on the growing reputation of TRS as a world class driver training formula. It has always been one of the series goals to maintain New Zealand’s fine traditions and rich motorsport history – so it is encouraging to know New Zealand and TRS can still play a small, yet significant, role in international single-seater racing.”

Since the Toyota Racing Series began in 2005 there have been 21 non-resident competitors and among them have been nine TRS race winners.

Included in the overseas drivers have been the likes of Ben Clucas, Hamad Al Fardan, Eduardo Piscopo, Jay Howard, Stefan Moller and, most recently, William Buller, Will Stevens, Pentus and Foresti. Ten Australian drivers have been attracted across the Tasman, including David Besnard, Tim Slade, Jason Bargwanna, Leanne Tander and race winners Nathan Antunes and Scott Pye.

“We are always keen to attract more overseas drivers to continue to provide competitive opposition for our own young talent. The skills of drivers like Shane van Gisbergen and Daniel Gaunt, who are now competing in Australian V8 Supercars, were undoubtedly honed by racing against overseas drivers; as well as competing against other ambitious kiwi youngsters.”

“Here in New Zealand we have a clearly defined career path for single-seater drivers and over the years that has played an important part in the development of many of our most talented drivers, including Scott Dixon, Brendon Hartley, Chris van der Drift, Wade Cunningham, Daniel Gaunt, Earl Bamber, Shane van Gisbergen, and currently Mitch Evans and Richie Stanaway. They have all gone on to winning races internationally.”

2011 Toyota Racing Series Schedule

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