2021 Toyota Racing Series
The 2021 Castrol Toyota Racing Series was the seventeenth running of the Toyota Racing Series, the premier open-wheel motorsport category held in New Zealand. The series consisted of nine races at three meetings. It began on 24 January at Hampton Downs, in Waikato, and concluded on 14 February at Manfeild, Feilding.[1] The season opener also hosted the 66th running of the New Zealand Grand Prix.[2] The 2021 Toyota Racing Series was the first season in which no individual race teams were running and all drivers were under a Toyota Racing banner. This was due to the COVID situation. [3]
Teams and drivers[]
No. | Driver | Rounds |
---|---|---|
3 | Chris Vlok[4] | All |
7 | [5] | All |
11 | Conrad Clark[6] | All |
14 | Billy Frazer[7] | All |
15 | Kaleb Ngatoa[8] | All |
22 | Tom Alexander[9] | 1–2 |
24 | Andre Heimgartner[10] | 1 |
27 | Daniel Gaunt[11] | 1 |
31 | Chris van der Drift[12] | 1 |
32 | Josh Bethune[13] | 1 |
50 | Ken Smith[14] | 1 |
51 | Greg Murphy[15] | 1 |
84 | Peter Vodanovich[16] | All |
86 | Brendon Leitch[17] | 1 |
87 | Damon Leitch[18] | 1 |
97 | Shane van Gisbergen[19] | 1 |
Changes[]
Sporting[]
To compensate for the shortened calendar, the race distances were increased, from 50 and 70 kilometers to 70 and 80 kilometers respectively.[20]
Race calendar[]
The 2021 calendar was announced on 17 November 2020. Heavy border restictions in New Zealand because of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a shortened calendar compared to traditional seasons, with only three race weekends at two circuits, limited to the North Island.[21]
Round | Circuit | Date | Pole Position | Fastest Lap | Race Winner | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | R1 | Hampton Downs Motorsport Park (Hampton Downs, North Waikato) |
23 January | Chris van der Drift | Shane van Gisbergen | Shane van Gisbergen |
R2 | 24 January | Shane van Gisbergen | Shane van Gisbergen | Shane van Gisbergen | ||
R3 | Kaleb Ngatoa | Shane van Gisbergen | Shane van Gisbergen | |||
2 | R1 | Hampton Downs Motorsport Park (Hampton Downs, North Waikato) |
30 January | Peter Vodanovich | ||
R2 | ||||||
3 | R1 | Manfeild: Circuit Chris Amon (Feilding, Manawatu District) |
13 February | |||
R2 | ||||||
R3 | 14 February | Billy Frazer [a] | ||||
R4 | ||||||
Source:[21] |
Championship standings[]
Drivers' championship[]
|
Bold – Pole |
Notes[]
- ^ Matthew Payne finished first but received two five-second time penalties for separate infringements (lining up outside of grid box and safety car restart procedure).
References[]
- ^ "Confirmed: Three round TRS calendar for 2021, no South Island circuits". VelocityNews. 2020-11-17. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
- ^ Wood, Elliot (2020-11-24). "New Zealand GP to run at TRS season opener at Hampton Downs". Formula Scout. Retrieved 2020-11-25.
- ^ "Unique New Zealand Grand Prix set to make history this weekend". Toyota New Zealand. 2020-11-21. Retrieved 2020-11-28.
- ^ "Stars align for Vlok for second TRS campaign, eight years after first". Toyota NZ. Retrieved 2021-01-16.
- ^ "Top Kiwi karter confirms full Castrol TRS campaign". Toyota NZ. December 10, 2020. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
- ^ "Clark completes GP and TRS line up". Toyota NZ. Retrieved 2021-01-19.
- ^ "Frazer secures his spot for Castrol TRS". Toyota NZ. December 14, 2020. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
- ^ "Ngatoa confirms full Castrol TRS campaign". Toyota NZ. December 17, 2020. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
- ^ Wood, Elliot (2021-01-15). "Two more Kiwi racing stars join New Zealand GP grid". Formula Scout. Retrieved 2021-01-15.
- ^ "Kiwi Supercars star Andre Heimgartner to race at NZ Grand Prix". Stuff. 2021-01-09. Retrieved 2021-01-09.
- ^ "Gaunt gunning to join elite group in 2021 New Zealand Grand Prix". Toyota NZ. December 18, 2020. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
- ^ "Chris van der Drift and Tasman Motorsports Group back for New Zealand Grand Prix". Toyota NZ. December 16, 2020. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
- ^ "2021 Castrol TRS championship set to intensify as Bethune confirmed". Toyota NZ. December 22, 2020. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
- ^ "Kiwi legend confirms 50th New Zealand Grand Prix drive". Toyota NZ. December 4, 2020. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
- ^ "Four time Bathurst winner Greg Murphy is a GP starter". Toyota NZ. December 20, 2020. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
- ^ "Peter Vodanovich graduates to full Toyota Racing Series season". Motorsport NZ. January 18, 2021. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
- ^ "Leitch a real factor for GP honours". Toyota NZ. January 8, 2021. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
- ^ "Damon confirmation makes it two Leitch brothers in the 2021 NZ Grand Prix". Toyota NZ. January 14, 2021. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
- ^ "Bathurst winner and first champion wildcard to enter New Zealand Grand Prix". Toyota NZ. December 8, 2020. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
- ^ "TRS season shortened to three rounds". www.motorsport.com. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
- ^ a b "TRS TO GO AHEAD IN 2021". Auto Action. 2020-11-17. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
External links[]
- Toyota Racing Series
- 2021 in New Zealand motorsport
- 2021 in Formula Three
- January 2021 sports events in New Zealand
- February 2021 sports events in New Zealand
- 2021 in formula racing