Tatuus iMagazine

31 Toyota Racing Series New Zealand, more than ever When facing unexpected situations, new solutions are required. The promoters of the Toyota Racing Series were tasked with a brand‐new challenge following the effects of the Covid‐19 pandemic. If the 2020 season was held regularly before the issues started, the latest edition had to deal with the limitations set by the Auckland government in terms of arrivals from abroad by Iacopo Rubino B y making a virtue out of necessity, the Toyota Racing Series became an interesting celebration of local motorsports, in a country that gave the world champions like Dennis Hulme, Chris Amon, Bruce McLaren and more recently Scott Dixon, Brendon Hartley and Scott McLaughlin. It was a great leap for the series managed by Toyota Gazoo Racing New Zealand, which was originally developed with a truly international vocation. Over the years, it attracted many young foreign talents aiming to train in ideal weather condition compared to the European winter. Driving the Tatuus machinery, they were allowed to improve their skills in a fully competitive context. Among its graduates stand future Formula 1 stars Daniil Kvyat, Lance Stroll and Lando Norris. With a compacted calendar, focused on the country's Northern Island for logistical reasons, the opening round took place on the Hampton Downs International circuit, mixing experienced racers and young guns aboard the Tatuus FT60 racecars. The event was titled New Zealand Grand Prix. Shane van Gisbergen, the 2016 V8 Supercars champion, was the star of the weekend and delivered a hat‐trick: in race 1, he overtook poleman Chris van der Drift after a few laps, and repeated himself in race 2, leading from start to finish. Then in race 3, he completed his masterpiece, fighting back after starting from the pit lane due to an unexpected event. The line‐up included 2005‐2006 Toyota Racing Series champion Daniel Gaunt, Supercars competitor Andre Heimgartner, starts record holder Brendon Leitch and even the legendary Ken Smith, born in 1941, who competed in the Grand Prix despite a shoulder injury.