Toyota Racing Series

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Mark Baker

The Toyota Racing Series is New Zealand's premier "open-wheeler" motorsport category. The Series includes races for every major trophy in New Zealand circuit racing including the Lady Wigram Trophy, the New Zealand Motor Cup and the Denny Hulme Memorial Trophy. The cars are also the category for the New Zealand Grand Prix - one of only two races in the world with FIA approval to use the Grand Prix nomenclature outside Formula One.

An incubator and showcase for the next generations of New Zealand racing talent, the Series offers emerging drivers the chance to gain valuable experience with carbon-fibre composite chassis, aerodynamics and slick tyres.

The cars use modified versions of Toyota four cylinder production engines, a six speed Sadev transmission with limited slip differential and a chassis built by Tatuus in Italy to full FIA F3 specification.

Previously, the country's leading drivers had to go offshore to step up to this level.

For 2008, the series has also gone "green". Fuels for all cars racing in the series are now an E85 biofuel blend of 85 per cent ethanol made from whey, a dairy industry by-product; and petrol. Reduced emissions, reduced carbon "footprint" and reduced use of fossil fuels are all being showcased in this unique New Zealand programme. The 2008 New Zealand Grand Prix thus becomes the first ever biofuel grand prix in the world.

The Series has the full endorsement of Motorsport New Zealand, the sport's governing body.

Most high profile graduate from the series to date is Brendon Hartley, now signed to race Formula Three for the respected Carlin Motorsport team in the UK.