Sure there will be complaints, as there always are, around the cost of entry, the parking, the organisation, the schedule, the food, the weather etc but this is quite normal for motor racing around the world and New Zealand in particular and the complaints take on the magnitude of an Olympic sport all of there own.
The main point surely though is that Speedworks Events are trying to make a motorsport weekend, all of the motorsport weekends of the season in fact, into events that the public want to come along and see. A popular event with crowds means sponsors want to be involved and sponsors mean bigger fields and more motor racing.
Not that simple obviously but that is the basic equation.
Speedworks has tightened up the event schedule in terms of timing and brought some new thinking to the events and it matters not what people may think of the personalities involved, the way things are now done, the classes racing or those that are not racing, at least somebody is doing something to try and get the sport out of the bickering and nasty infighting that seems to have been so prevalent in recent years.
And by the way, nobody else acceptable seriously put a hand up to tender for the job.
There are multiple categories racing in the events around the country during the summer but surely the 'jewel in the crown' has to be, for my money at least, the Castrol Toyota Racing Series (TRS). A now world famous series that has promoted the careers of not just young Kiwi drivers but drivers from almost every continent and who are now racing in virtually all of the major series around the world.
The TRS is a real 'feeder' series, an effective school of hard driving that prepares young stars for the tough world of European racing. Many a major international racing team has sent young hopefuls to the bottom of the world (quite literally when they race at Teretonga near Invercargill) to find out if they have the mettle to go further in the sport.
Many succeed but just as many fail and quickly realise that their own particular dream of racing in Formula One will remain just that.
A dream.
Of the current (2017) Formula One roster of teams, at least 10 drivers, either full time or reserve, have been in New Zealand for the Castrol Toyota Racing Series and obviously the most talked about at the moment is double world WEC champion and Le Mans winner Brendon Hartley from Palmerston North driving for the Toro Rosso team who epitomises the TRS motto of 'Finding New Zealand's Next World Champion'.
Toyota New Zealand have totally revamped their racing effort for both the TRS and the TR 86 category as they lead in to the fourteenth season of the TRS. Personnel changes, a newly established, modern and huge racing headquarters and a new management structure has seen the company increase it's commitment, not only to the two Toyota Racing categories, but to motor sport in New Zealand in general. Some thirty five Toyota Racing staff or contracted personnel will attend each of the events and an increased budget confirms that long term commitment.
No other manufacturer has ever supported any form of motorsport in this country to this extent.
The series is a showcase for New Zealand with not only the influx of international drivers descending on the country for two months of our summer but countless other family members, international engineers and support staff to accompany them.
I can hear the comments now about how closely I am involved with the series and yes, I am the 'Toyota Racing Ambassador' (and very proud of it) and that is precisely why I do not write about the series too much, for fear of losing any objectiveness I may have, however, the TRS is a very valid, very competitive internationally respected, home grown motor racing series and demands to be talked about, watched and enjoyed 'live' at our unique tracks around New Zealand as it is on TV in multiple countries around the world.
As I think I may have mentioned in this column on previous occasions, especially to those who complain that it was better in the 'old days'. These are those old days my friends, right now, when in five or ten years or so time, we can say of the champions of the sport "I remember when I saw him, or her, racing at …" and here you can name a track near you.
So, have a good (and VERY safe) Christmas and New Year, leave the road rage and racing where it belongs on the racetrack, then get along to enjoy the old days while they are still the new days.
2018 Castrol Toyota Racing Series
Round 1: Ruapuna 10-14 Jan 2018
Round 2: Teretonga 18-21 Jan 2018
Round 3: Hampton Downs 25-28 Jan 2018
Round 4: Taupo 1-4 Feb 2018
Round 5: Manfeild 8-11 Feb 2018
