TRS offers a chance for young racers to drive premier circuits, says Eric Thompson
KEY POINTS:
Toyota New Zealand has announced a new transitional class to run within its successful Toyota Racing Series. The new TRS Lites will provide an essential first step for racers aiming to compete in the premier class. The cars use the existing mechanical components and carbon fibre chassis of the championship TRS cars but will have less power - 111kW (150bhp) compared to the 166 kW (220 bhp) of the cars in the main series.
Lites will use the same production-based 1.8-litre Toyota engines as the championship cars but their engine management and variable valve timing systems will be reconfigured to control power output.
Lites will compete in the same races as the championship cars, giving new drivers their first taste of premier-class racing in an arrive-and-drive package managed and engineered by TRS. There will be a limited number of opportunities for young racers to secure Lites packages.
The Lites will not be eligible for the main game points but will help teams in the championship bring new racers up to speed quickly and safely. Testing of a TRS car in Lites specification shows it is likely to lap within 3-4 seconds of the more powerful existing TRS cars.
Category manager Barrie Thomlinson says the new initiative responds to demand from young racers emerging in other classes and also to the current economic climate.
"The Lites cars give our young stars a first transition to wings and slicks racing, and make sure we don't lose sight of a fresh crop of race stars who are trying to advance their careers in a very difficult commercial environment," said Thomlinson.
The new cars will also support the teams active in the championship itself by establishing a feeder category that put them in close contact with the next season's crop of race drivers.
"This extension to the category will make it easier for drivers to step into the premier class. The category will help drivers to develop all aspects of their performance. Lites drivers will receive coaching in all aspects of the sport to hone their engineering knowledge, media skills, fitness and understanding of diet and nutrition."
Already, the category is proving its effectiveness in giving drivers an essential first step into wings and slicks single-seater racing. Recent TRS graduates who have gone on to success overseas include Brendon Hartley, racing in the Red Bull Junior Squad for Carlin Motorsport this year in European Formula Three; Chris van der Drift and Earl Bamber, who are sharing driving duties at New Zealand's A1GP team and also competing in GP2, the feeder formula to F1; Wade Cunningham, who is making a career in the United States after winning the Indy Pro series in 2005; and Shane Van Gisbergen, now a full-time professional driver based in Australia and racing in the V8 Supercar Series.
TRS Lites is scheduled to begin in the 2010 season, with trial drive opportunities under race conditions to start with next month's New Zealand Grand Prix at Manfeild. Full details of the package and the specification of the cars will be available when trials have been completed and evaluated.
Thomlinson said there has been strong interest from those in karting and in other track racing classes.
"TRS Lites will provide competitors with a cost-effective, safe, high-tech formula car supported by a development programme for engineers and drivers to develop their skills to an international level," he said.
