Toyota sponsors NZ karting series to boost driver recruitment

Toyota GAZOO Racing will become title sponsor of the New Zealand ProKart series in an effort to build motorsport recruitment.

Toyota GAZOO Racing New Zealand will become title sponsor of the New Zealand ProKart series. (Graham Hughes/sportsweb.co.nz)

The series, which runs from February to May, joins the TGRNZ pathway for New Zealand drivers.

The organisation has a proven commitment to New Zealand motorsport with the aim of fielding a recruit in Formula 1 or IndyCar, and ultimately, "finding the next New Zealand world champion."

The Toyota 86 championship winner receives a $50,000 sponsorship to compete in the open-wheel Toyota Racing Series as well as a test with Supercars' Triple Eight Race Engineering.

The NZ Formula Ford champion, as well as the North and South Island winners all receive a Toyota Racing Series test.

Meanwhile, the NZ Formula First champion is rewarded with a Toyota 86 test day, as are top competitors in the ProKart series.

Toyota GAZOO Racing has also established close international ties, with the Toyota Racing Series champion earning a spot in the Road to Indy scholarship shoot-out.

"There's definitely a synergy there and all of these young drivers understand the benefits both in the short term and the long term in working with a motorsport organisation like TOYOTA GAZOO Racing," said Nicolas Caillol, TGRNZ Motorsport Manager.

"With their aspirations to be a motorsport star so often starting at a young age it will be great to see the under 10 years of age Mini Rok and every competitive Junior Rotax classes part of ProKart 2022."

"The top two under 25 years of age finishers of KZ2 will get a test with us and a third one will also test but will be determined through an interview process."

"We are very keen to assess the best talent coming through ProKart and that remains very much part of our overall vision and desire to find the next New Zealand world champion."