2018 Toyota Racing Series

Last updated

The 2018 Castrol Toyota Racing Series was the fourteenth 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 13 January at Ruapuna Park in Christchurch, and concluded on 11 February with the 63rd running of the New Zealand Grand Prix, at Circuit Chris Amon in Feilding.

Contents

M2 Competition driver Robert Shwartzman won the title, being the only driver who finished in the top-five every race of the season. [1] His teammates (and series returnees) Richard Verschoor and Marcus Armstrong had more podium finishes and race wins, but were not as consistent as Shwartzman. Another M2 driver Juan Manuel Correa raced his first season in the series, but was not considered as a rookie due to his GP3 Series experience, and he won races at Teretonga and Taupō; he finished fourth in the standings. [2] [3] Giles Motorsport driver Clément Novalak was the highest placed rookie who conformed series regulations, winning races at Teretonga and Hampton Downs and completed the top-five in the championship. [4] [5]

Teams and drivers

TeamNo.DriverStatusRounds
Giles Motorsport4 Flag of New Zealand.svg Reid Harker [6] RAll
17 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Clément Novalak [7] RAll
MTEC Motorsport5 Flag of New Zealand.svg Ryan YardleyRAll
11 Flag of New Zealand.svg Taylor CockertonAll
52 Flag of France.svg Charles Milesi [8] [N 1] All
M2 Competition 7 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Richard Verschoor [9] All
9 Flag of New Zealand.svg Marcus Armstrong [10] All
15 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg James Pull [11] [N 1] All
35 Flag of Russia.svg Robert Shwartzman [12] [N 1] All
68 Flag of the United States.svg Juan Manuel Correa [13] [N 1] All
Victory Motor Racing28 Flag of the United States.svg Cameron Das [N 1] All
44 Flag of Guyana.svg Calvin Ming R1–3
47 Flag of New Zealand.svg Ken Smith 5
86 Flag of New Zealand.svg Brendon Leitch [14] All

Race calendar and results

The calendar for the series was announced on 22 June 2017, and was held over five successive weekends in January and February. [15]

RoundDateCircuitPole positionFastest lapWinning driverWinning teamRound winner(s)Report
1R113 January Mike Pero Motorsport Park, Christchurch Flag of Russia.svg Robert Shwartzman Flag of Russia.svg Robert Shwartzman Flag of the Netherlands.svg Richard Verschoor M2 Competition Flag of New Zealand.svg Marcus Armstrong Report
R214 January Flag of the Netherlands.svg Richard Verschoor Flag of New Zealand.svg Marcus Armstrong M2 Competition
R3 Flag of Russia.svg Robert Shwartzman Flag of New Zealand.svg Marcus Armstrong Flag of New Zealand.svg Marcus Armstrong M2 Competition
2R120 January Teretonga Park, Invercargill Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Clément Novalak Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Clément Novalak Flag of the Netherlands.svg Richard Verschoor M2 Competition Flag of New Zealand.svg Marcus Armstrong Report
R221 January Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Clément Novalak Flag of the United States.svg Juan Manuel Correa M2 Competition
R3 Flag of New Zealand.svg Marcus Armstrong Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Clément Novalak Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Clément Novalak Giles Motorsport
3R127 January Hampton Downs Motorsport Park, Waikato Flag of the Netherlands.svg Richard Verschoor Flag of the Netherlands.svg Richard Verschoor Flag of the Netherlands.svg Richard Verschoor M2 Competition Flag of the Netherlands.svg Richard Verschoor Report
R228 January Flag of the United States.svg Juan Manuel Correa Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Clément Novalak Giles Motorsport
R3 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Richard Verschoor Flag of Russia.svg Robert Shwartzman Flag of the Netherlands.svg Richard Verschoor M2 Competition
4R13 February Bruce McLaren Motorsport Park, Taupō Flag of the United States.svg Juan Manuel Correa Flag of the United States.svg Juan Manuel Correa Flag of the United States.svg Juan Manuel Correa M2 Competition Flag of the Netherlands.svg Richard Verschoor Report
R24 February Flag of New Zealand.svg Brendon Leitch Flag of New Zealand.svg Brendon Leitch Victory Motor Racing
R3 Flag of Russia.svg Robert Shwartzman Flag of Russia.svg Robert Shwartzman Flag of Russia.svg Robert Shwartzman M2 Competition
5R110 February Circuit Chris Amon, Feilding Flag of the Netherlands.svg Richard Verschoor Flag of the Netherlands.svg Richard Verschoor Flag of the Netherlands.svg Richard Verschoor M2 Competition Flag of the Netherlands.svg Richard Verschoor Report
R211 February Flag of New Zealand.svg Brendon Leitch Flag of New Zealand.svg Brendon Leitch Victory Motor Racing
R3 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Richard Verschoor Flag of the Netherlands.svg Richard Verschoor Flag of the Netherlands.svg Richard Verschoor 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 Russia.svg Robert Shwartzman 232244423451242916
2 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Richard Verschoor 12Ret163151333131911
3 Flag of New Zealand.svg Marcus Armstrong 311332232542557901
4 Flag of the United States.svg Juan Manuel Correa 1068617344194664756
5 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Clément Novalak 41064515191010Ret326711
6 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg James Pull 51135267752878810692
7 Flag of New Zealand.svg Brendon Leitch 12Ret478596Ret815415634
8 Flag of New Zealand.svg Reid Harker88128131069126712999538
9 Flag of New Zealand.svg Ryan Yardley13991211131310117297128525
10 Flag of New Zealand.svg Taylor Cockerton641111101288109691010Ret514
11 Flag of France.svg Charles Milesi 97513121110Ret61112812113504
12 Flag of the United States.svg Cameron Das 11Ret797811Ret7Ret11611711438
13 Flag of Guyana.svg Calvin Ming 75101099121110320
14 Flag of New Zealand.svg Ken Smith 13131280
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

Footnotes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Under the series' sporting regulations, not considered as Rookie because of his previous racing experience

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