2017 Toyota Racing Series

Last updated

The 2017 Castrol Toyota Racing Series was the thirteenth running of the Toyota Racing Series, the premier open-wheel motorsport category held in New Zealand. The series consisted of fifteen races at five meetings. It began on 14 January at Ruapuna Park in Christchurch, and concluded on 12 February with the 62nd running of the New Zealand Grand Prix, at Circuit Chris Amon in Feilding. Lando Norris was the defending drivers' champion but decided not to compete, concentrating on his European Formula Three campaign, whilst M2 Competition were the defending teams champions.

Contents

Thomas Randle became the first Australian to win the Toyota Racing Series when he clinched the title by five points over Pedro Piquet. In third place overall and the best-placed rookie was Red Bull Junior driver, Richard Verschoor, who led most of the championship through strong, consistent performances. The best-placed Kiwi would be rookie and Ferrari Driver Academy driver, Marcus Armstrong; beating out his other countrymen - Taylor Cockerton and Brendon Leitch.

Teams and drivers

A new team, MTEC Motorsport made their debut this season. [1] In December 2016, the grid was finalized as follows: [2]

TeamNo.DriverStatusRounds
Victory Motor Racing3 Flag of New Zealand.svg Brendon Leitch All
49 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Thomas Randle [3] All
51 Flag of the United States.svg Shelby Blackstock RAll
80 Flag of Russia.svg Nikita Lastochkin RAll
M2 Competition 5 Flag of Brazil.svg Pedro Piquet All
8 Flag of New Zealand.svg Marcus Armstrong RAll
9 Flag of India.svg Jehan Daruvala All
27 Flag of France.svg Jean Baptiste Simmenauer [4] RAll
62 Flag of Austria.svg Ferdinand Habsburg [5] All
83 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Kami Laliberté [6] All
MTEC Motorsport10 Flag of France.svg Thomas Neubauer [7] RAll
11 Flag of New Zealand.svg Taylor Cockerton [8] All
24 Flag of India.svg Ameya Vaidyanathan [9] RAll
33 Flag of the United States.svg Kory Enders RAll
Giles Motorsport12 Flag of Brazil.svg Christian HahnRAll
22 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Richard Verschoor [10] RAll
26 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Harry HayekRAll
47 Flag of Germany.svg Keyvan Andres Soori RAll
65 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Enaam Ahmed [11] RAll
96 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Luis Leeds [12] RAll

Race calendar and results

The calendar for the series was announced on 12 July 2016, and was held over five successive weekends in January and February. [13]

RoundDateCircuitPole positionFastest lapWinning driverWinning teamRound winner(s)Report
1R114 January Mike Pero Motorsport Park, Christchurch Flag of India.svg Jehan Daruvala Flag of the Netherlands.svg Richard Verschoor Flag of New Zealand.svg Marcus Armstrong M2 Competition Flag of the Netherlands.svg Richard Verschoor Report
R215 January Flag of New Zealand.svg Taylor Cockerton Flag of Australia (converted).svg Thomas Randle Victory Motor Racing
R3 Flag of India.svg Jehan Daruvala Flag of India.svg Jehan Daruvala Flag of India.svg Jehan Daruvala M2 Competition
2R121 January Teretonga Park, Invercargill Flag of Australia (converted).svg Thomas Randle Flag of Australia (converted).svg Thomas Randle Flag of the Netherlands.svg Richard Verschoor Giles Motorsport Flag of the Netherlands.svg Richard Verschoor Report
R222 January Flag of Australia (converted).svg Thomas Randle Flag of Brazil.svg Pedro Piquet M2 Competition
R3 Flag of New Zealand.svg Brendon Leitch Flag of the Netherlands.svg Richard Verschoor Flag of the Netherlands.svg Richard Verschoor Giles Motorsport
3R128 January Hampton Downs Motorsport Park, Waikato Flag of Australia (converted).svg Thomas Randle Flag of Australia (converted).svg Thomas Randle Flag of New Zealand.svg Marcus Armstrong M2 Competition Flag of Brazil.svg Pedro Piquet Report
R229 January Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Enaam Ahmed Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Enaam Ahmed Giles Motorsport
R3 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Thomas Randle Flag of Australia (converted).svg Thomas Randle Flag of Australia (converted).svg Thomas Randle Victory Motor Racing
4R14 February Bruce McLaren Motorsport Park, Taupō Flag of New Zealand.svg Marcus Armstrong Flag of New Zealand.svg Brendon Leitch Flag of New Zealand.svg Brendon Leitch Victory Motor Racing Flag of New Zealand.svg Marcus Armstrong Report
R25 February Flag of New Zealand.svg Taylor Cockerton Flag of Brazil.svg Pedro Piquet M2 Competition
R3 Flag of India.svg Jehan Daruvala Flag of India.svg Jehan Daruvala Flag of New Zealand.svg Marcus Armstrong M2 Competition
5R111 February Circuit Chris Amon, Feilding Flag of India.svg Jehan Daruvala Flag of Australia (converted).svg Thomas Randle Flag of Brazil.svg Pedro Piquet M2 Competition Flag of New Zealand.svg Marcus Armstrong Report
R212 February Flag of Australia (converted).svg Thomas Randle Flag of the Netherlands.svg Richard Verschoor Giles Motorsport
R3 Flag of India.svg Jehan Daruvala Flag of Australia (converted).svg Thomas Randle Flag of India.svg Jehan Daruvala M2 Competition

Championship standings

In order for a driver to score championship points, they have to complete at least 75% of the race winner's distance, and be running at the race's completion. All races counted towards the final championship standings.

Scoring system
Position1st2nd3rd4th5th6th7th8th9th10th11th12th13th14th15th16th17th18th19th20th
Points7567605449454239363330282624222018161412

Drivers' championship

Pos.Driver RUA TER HMP TAU MAN Points
1 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Thomas Randle 415733371424543855
2 Flag of Brazil.svg Pedro Piquet 6173315234515134850
3 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Richard Verschoor 3241214216867415843
4 Flag of New Zealand.svg Marcus Armstrong 13Ret114414Ret241322792
5 Flag of India.svg Jehan Daruvala 2Ret19721483332271781
6 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Enaam Ahmed 81225Ret851977116Ret6586
7 Flag of New Zealand.svg Taylor Cockerton5411659896Ret1567610574
8 Flag of Austria.svg Ferdinand Habsburg 7564Ret18910218163857552
9 Flag of New Zealand.svg Brendon Leitch 9672Ret7121517158Ret8Ret502
10 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Kami Laliberté1081012667615611913Ret13498
11 Flag of Germany.svg Keyvan Andres Soori 1210Ret1081710121210101318108423
12 Flag of the United States.svg Shelby Blackstock 11715141212111311141417101112421
13 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Luis Leeds 15111316101413195981299Ret419
14 Flag of Brazil.svg Christian Hahn171688910181881512151116Ret372
15 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Harry Hayek149121316151511713Ret10Ret179363
16 Flag of India.svg Ameya Vaidyanathan 1314Ret15111965Ret121714141411358
17 Flag of France.svg Thomas Neubauer 161814201313Ret141311918161514308
18 Flag of Russia.svg Nikita Lastochkin Ret15Ret171411RetRet10161316171216263
19 Flag of France.svg Jean-Baptiste Simmenauer 1819Ret19151617161417Ret19151317248
20 Flag of the United States.svg Kory Enders 1913918Ret201617RetRetRetRet12Ret15192
Pos.Driver RUA TER HMP TAU MAN Points
ColourResult
GoldWinner
SilverSecond place
BronzeThird place
GreenPoints finish
BlueNon-points finish
Non-classified finish (NC)
PurpleRetired (Ret)
RedDid not qualify (DNQ)
Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ)
BlackDisqualified (DSQ)
WhiteDid not start (DNS)
Withdrew (WD)
Race cancelled (C)
BlankDid not practice (DNP)
Did not arrive (DNA)
Excluded (EX)

Bold – Pole
Italics – Fastest Lap

Rookie

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References

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  2. "Field set for 2017 Toyota Racing Series". 30 December 2016. Retrieved 30 December 2016.
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  4. "French karting champion takes place of defending champion Lando Norris in TRS". 23 December 2016. Retrieved 23 December 2016.
  5. "Habsburg joins Carlin for step up to European F3". 7 December 2016. Retrieved 7 December 2016. Habsburg will contest the Toyota Racing Series in New Zealand for a third straight year next month, and will switch to top team M2 Competition after coming fourth in the 2016 standings with Giles Motorsport.
  6. "Trio of Kiwis to battle strong international line-up in TRS". 19 December 2016. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
  7. "Trio of Kiwis to battle strong international line-up in TRS". 19 December 2016. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
  8. "Cockerton first entry for 2017 Toyota Racing Series". Toyota New Zealand. 10 August 2016. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
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  10. "Verschoor overwintert in Toyota Racing Series" (in Dutch). Motorsport.com. 12 December 2016. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
  11. "Motorsport: Talented teen confirmed for Toyota Racing Series". 28 December 2016. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  12. "16-YEAR-OLD HEADS AUSTRALIAN ASSAULT ON TOYOTA RACING SERIES". 15 December 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2016.[ permanent dead link ]
  13. "Toyota Racing Series — prospects look good". Toyota New Zealand. 12 July 2016. Retrieved 19 July 2016.