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Friendly and welcoming - that's the special ambience found at the Manfeild race circuit, venue for the annual New Zealand Grand Prix. So says Barrie Thomlinson, manager of the Toyota Racing Series, the premier open-wheeler category competing for New Zealand motorsport's coveted prize.
Thomlinson supports the Grand Prix at the Feilding track because he says Manfeild is a well-planned circuit and has provided some exceptionally good TRS races over the past five seasons.
"And of course it is based in the Manawatu which is home to Toyota New Zealand. There is a sense of ‘bringing it home’ to this region because the first New Zealand Grand Prix was staged at Ohakea in 1950.
"There's always a good feel about the place every time we visit and Toyota has played a supporting role that has seen local investment being made in the ongoing upgrade of the facilities,” he said.
"The New Zealand Grand Prix at Manfeild delivers a true Grand Prix feel too which reflects the importance of the history this International title carries and the previous Champions that have won this event since that first Ohakea Grand Prix.
The NZ Grand Prix Title is one of only two FIA-sanctioned events awarded the Grand Prix title outside of Formula 1. The other is the famous Macau Grand Prix. Both are inscribed on the FIA’s International calendar.
Thomlinson has run the Toyota Racing Series since its inception in 2005 and his association with Manfeild goes back to the early days of his competitive career.
" Gosh I've been coming here for probably in excess of 25 years. I've raced everything here, from what was then Formula Vee, to Formula Ford, Formula Atlantic and most recently Toyota touring cars.
"I’ve won a few races here and had a bit of success. I contested a couple of Grand Prix at Manfeild in my Formula Atlantic days, and have finished on the podium a couple of times."
What was the attraction of the Manfeild circuit from a driver’s point of view?
"I think it provides a lot of opportunity for overtaking. It's a challenging layout, with flowing corners. It just works as a race track."
Fundamentally, the layout hasn't changed over the years, he says, and that's no bad thing.
"The 3km circuit is exactly the same as it always has been. It provides good opportunities to pass, it allows a driver to attack high and low; and at the heart of it, that's what motor racing is all about."
The cambered corners make Manfeild unique among New Zealand's circuits.
"They provide more mid-corner speed and offer a few more challenges in the braking zones, so it's a place that rewards good chassis setup. It's a unique circuit to drive, in fact, there aren't a lot of circuits in the world that have as many cambered corners like Manfield."
The only class in New Zealand motorsport that offers aspiring racers vital experience with wings, slicks and composite technologies, the Toyota Racing Series is Toyota's commitment to nurturing our next generation of top level racing talent.
The Series includes races for most of the major historic trophies in New Zealand circuit racing, including the New Zealand Motor Cup and the Denny Hulme Memorial Trophy.
The Toyota Racing Series is recognised as the final step for local drivers heading offshore to prove themselves internationally. With the sensational success of TRS graduates Brendon Hartley and Earl Bamber who would count Manfield as their home circuit, the career path is proven.
