2017 Toyota Racing Series


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.
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. In December 2016, the grid was finalized as follows:
TeamDriverStatusRounds
Victory Motor Racing3 Brendon LeitchAll
Victory Motor Racing49 Thomas RandleAll
Victory Motor Racing51 Shelby BlackstockAll
Victory Motor Racing80 Nikita LastochkinAll
M2 Competition5 Pedro PiquetAll
M2 Competition8 Marcus ArmstrongAll
M2 Competition9 Jehan DaruvalaAll
M2 Competition27 Jean Baptiste SimmenauerAll
M2 Competition62 Ferdinand HabsburgAll
M2 Competition83 Kami LalibertéAll
MTEC Motorsport10 Thomas NeubauerAll
MTEC Motorsport11 Taylor CockertonAll
MTEC Motorsport24 Ameya VaidyanathanAll
MTEC Motorsport33 Kory EndersAll
Giles Motorsport12 Christian HahnAll
Giles Motorsport22 Richard VerschoorAll
Giles Motorsport26 Harry HayekAll
Giles Motorsport47 Keyvan Andres SooriAll
Giles Motorsport65 Enaam AhmedAll
Giles Motorsport96 Luis LeedsAll

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.

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