2021 Toyota Racing Series

Last updated

The 2021 Castrol Toyota Racing Series was the seventeenth running of the Toyota Racing Series, the premier open-wheel motorsport category held in New Zealand. The series consisted of nine races at three meetings. It began on 24 January at Hampton Downs, in Waikato, and concluded on 14 February at Manfeild, Feilding. [1] The season opener also hosted the 66th running of the New Zealand Grand Prix. [2] The 2021 Toyota Racing Series was the first season in which no individual race teams were running and all drivers were under a Toyota Racing banner. This was due to the COVID situation. [3]

Contents

Teams and drivers

TeamNo.DriverRounds
M2 Competition 3 Flag of New Zealand.svg Chris Vlok [4] All
7 Flag of New Zealand.svg Matthew Payne [5] All
14 Flag of New Zealand.svg Billy Frazer [6] All
15 Flag of New Zealand.svg Kaleb Ngatoa [7] All
32 Flag of New Zealand.svg Josh Bethune [8] 1
97 Flag of New Zealand.svg Shane van Gisbergen [9] 1
11 Flag of New Zealand.svg Conrad Clark [10] All
Giles Motorsport22 Flag of New Zealand.svg Tom Alexander [11] 1–2
24 Flag of New Zealand.svg Andre Heimgartner [12] 1
50 Flag of New Zealand.svg Ken Smith [13] 1
84 Flag of New Zealand.svg Peter Vodanovich [14] All
Tasman Motorsports 27 Flag of New Zealand.svg Daniel Gaunt [15] 1
31 Flag of New Zealand.svg Chris van der Drift [16] 1
Kiwi Motorsport51 Flag of New Zealand.svg Greg Murphy [17] 1
86 Flag of New Zealand.svg Brendon Leitch [18] 1
87 Flag of New Zealand.svg Damon Leitch [19] 1

Changes

Sporting

To compensate for the shortened calendar, the race distances were increased, from 50 and 70 kilometers to 70 and 80 kilometers respectively. [20]

Race calendar

The 2021 calendar was announced on 17 November 2020. Heavy border restrictions in New Zealand because of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a shortened calendar compared to traditional seasons, with only three race weekends at two circuits, limited to the North Island. [21]

RoundCircuitDatePole PositionFastest LapRace Winner
1R1 Hampton Downs Motorsport Park
(Hampton Downs, North Waikato)
23 January Flag of New Zealand.svg Chris van der Drift Flag of New Zealand.svg Shane van Gisbergen Flag of New Zealand.svg Shane van Gisbergen
R224 January Flag of New Zealand.svg Shane van Gisbergen Flag of New Zealand.svg Shane van Gisbergen Flag of New Zealand.svg Shane van Gisbergen
R3 Flag of New Zealand.svg Kaleb Ngatoa Flag of New Zealand.svg Shane van Gisbergen Flag of New Zealand.svg Shane van Gisbergen
2R1 Hampton Downs Motorsport Park
(Hampton Downs, North Waikato)
30 January Flag of New Zealand.svg Matthew Payne Flag of New Zealand.svg Peter Vodanovich Flag of New Zealand.svg Matthew Payne
R2 Flag of New Zealand.svg Matthew Payne Flag of New Zealand.svg Matthew Payne Flag of New Zealand.svg Matthew Payne
3R1 Manfeild: Circuit Chris Amon
(Feilding, Manawatū District)
13 February Flag of New Zealand.svg Matthew Payne Flag of New Zealand.svg Matthew Payne Flag of New Zealand.svg Matthew Payne
R2 Flag of New Zealand.svg Matthew Payne Flag of New Zealand.svg Matthew Payne Flag of New Zealand.svg Matthew Payne
R314 February Flag of New Zealand.svg Matthew Payne Flag of New Zealand.svg Matthew Payne Flag of New Zealand.svg Billy Frazer [lower-alpha 1]
R4 Flag of New Zealand.svg Matthew Payne Flag of New Zealand.svg Matthew Payne Flag of New Zealand.svg Matthew Payne
Source: [21]

Championship standings

Drivers' championship

Pos.Driver HD1 HD2 MAN Points
1 Flag of New Zealand.svg Matthew Payne 333111121287
2 Flag of New Zealand.svg Kaleb Ngatoa 544422345229
3 Flag of New Zealand.svg Billy Frazer 1098364512201
4 Flag of New Zealand.svg Conrad Clark12610653453183
5 Flag of New Zealand.svg Peter Vodanovich 97Ret2DSQ5234167
6 Flag of New Zealand.svg Chris Vlok141013746666149
7 Flag of New Zealand.svg Shane van Gisbergen 111105
8 Flag of New Zealand.svg Tom Alexander8Ret115375
9 Flag of New Zealand.svg Chris van der Drift 221271
10 Flag of New Zealand.svg Damon Leitch 115554
11 Flag of New Zealand.svg Andre Heimgartner 6Ret251
12 Flag of New Zealand.svg Brendon Leitch 4Ret644
13 Flag of New Zealand.svg Daniel Gaunt 7Ret736
14 Flag of New Zealand.svg Josh BethuneRet81423
15 Flag of New Zealand.svg Greg Murphy 13Ret922
16 Flag of New Zealand.svg Ken Smith 15Ret1512
Pos.Driver HD1 HD2 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

Notes

  1. Matthew Payne finished first but received two five-second time penalties for separate infringements (lining up outside of grid box and safety car restart procedure).

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