TOYOTA GAZOO Racing New Zealand will be heading to the Mike Pero Motorsport Park in Christchurch next month on Tuesday
4th May.Toyota will test its FT60 at the Mike Pero Motorsport Park for the first time next month. Pic Bruce Jenkins.
They will use the test as part of their on-going development programme and to gather set up data. Both the current
specification Toyota FT-60 Castrol Toyota Racing Series car and the Toyota 86 will test during the day and subject to
category manager approval, drivers will be able to purchase tests in both machines.
South Island Formula Ford champion, James Penrose and the newly crowned NZ Formula Ford championship winner- who will be
crowned at the weekend before will test the FT-60 as part of their series champion's prize.
The Toyota 86 will remain in the South Island with further tests to be scheduled. Expect a major announcement for the
Toyota 86 championship in the South Island in the coming weeks.
Both MotorSport NZ national championships traditionally compete in both North and South Islands, except for the 2020
Covid-19 interrupted season and provide race drivers with the chance to secure a recognised national title.
Castrol Toyota Racing Series Category Manager Nico Caillol says TGRNZ is looking forward to heading back to the South
Island. "We are all working to get back to normal and as part of that process we intend to put plenty of kilometres on
the FT-60 test car not only to evaluate drivers but also to understand how the car works on the Mike Pero Motorsport
Park track. It’s the first time the car will have run there so we are all looking forward to that and seeing how the
various drivers perform.
“Formula Ford is the natural feeder series for TRS and Toyota 86 with the likes of Billy Frazer, Kaleb Ngatoa, Matthew
Payne, and the USA’s Spike Kohlbecker so we are looking forward to seeing the talent Formula Ford has produced this
season. We are also keen to explore what other single-seater talent we have in the South Island, this test day will give
drivers the opportunity to see what TRS is all about.”
Toyota 86 Category Manager Geoff Short was equally as enthusiastic. "This year's Best Bars Toyota 86 Championship has
been one of the most competitive ever and we are fully aware that there are a number of fantastic up and coming drivers
racing in the South Island who would really excel in the championship.
“The Christchurch test day, and the others that will follow give every up and coming driver the opportunity to sample
the car, work with the TGRNZ engineers and get an accurate glimpse of what it would be like to compete in the
championship. Expect more South Island tests and opportunities over the coming weeks and months."Drivers will be able to sample the Toyota 86 over the next few weeks. Pic Bruce Jenkins