Photo: Toyota Racing Series/Bruce Jenkins
Mitch Evans will contest this weekend’s Toyota Racing Series round at Hampton Downs, returning to the series he won in 2010 and 2011.
The New Zealander leaves for Europe next week ahead of his rookie GP2 season after winning last year’s GP3 title, but will first take on this year’s TRS field driving for the Giles Motorsport team.
“During the last couple of months we have been focussed on plans to compete with the Arden team in GP2, but I have been following the Toyota Racing Series results closely,” said Evans.
“It?s been a fascinating and very competitive season so I?m excited to have this last minute opportunity to start my 2013 racing year here at home in Auckland. I have many loyal New Zealand sponsors who are backing my international racing so I am pleased to race at Hampton Downs this weekend for them ? and for my Kiwi fans and supporters.
“It will be a big challenge stepping into a TRS car again. I haven?t raced since winning the GP3 title at Monza in early September and my TRS rivals have already competed in nine races during the three rounds leading into Hampton Downs.”
Evans contested the last two rounds of the 2012 TRS campaign, winning a race from pole at both Hampton Downs and Manfeild. He finished second to Nick Cassidy in the New Zealand Motor Cup – the feature race at Hampton Downs – and led his rival in the New Zealand Grand Prix at Manfeild before a late retirement.
“Nick and I have had some good races against each other in TRS so I?m looking forward to lining up against him as well as all of the fast international drivers this weekend. The New Zealand Motor Cup holds a special place in New Zealand motor racing history. It?s good to be kicking off my racing year in Auckland because this is home ? this is where my racing career started when I was six years old.”