2008–09 Toyota Racing Series
# 2008–09 Toyota Racing Series

The 2008–09 Toyota Racing Series was the fifth running of the Toyota Racing Series. The Toyota Racing Series is New Zealand's premier open-wheeler motorsport category. The Series includes races for every major trophy in New Zealand circuit racing including the New Zealand Motor Cup and the Denny Hulme Memorial Trophy. The cars are also the category for the 2009 New Zealand Grand Prix, which was held as the third race of the Manfeild Autocourse round, – one of only two races in the world with FIA approval to use the Grand Prix nomenclature outside Formula One.

Mitch Cunningham won the championship by over 100 points ahead of Sam MacNeill and Michael Burdett; finishing as the round winner in three of the six meetings.

## Teams and drivers

The following teams and drivers are competing during the 2008–09 Toyota Racing Series. All drivers compete in Tatuus TT104ZZ chassis.

| Team | No. | Driver | Rounds |
| - | - | - | - |
| European Technique | 1 | Andy Knight | 4 |
| European Technique | 5 | Scott Pye | All |
| European Technique | 47 | Nathan Antunes | 1–3 |
| European Technique | 50 | Adderly Fong | 2–3 |
| Earl Bamber Racing | 2 | Earl Bamber | 4 |
| Giles Motorsport | 8 | Will Stevens | 2–4 |
| Giles Motorsport | 9 | Daniel Jilesen | All |
| Giles Motorsport | 14 | Keeley Pudney | 1–5 |
| Giles Motorsport | 28 | William Buller | 2–4 |
| Giles Motorsport | 32 | Mitch Cunningham | All |
| Ken Smith Motorsport | 11 | Ken Smith | 5–6 |
| Motorsport Solutions | 19 | Sam MacNeill | All |
| Motorsport Solutions | 69 | Alastair Wootten | All |
| Motorsport Solutions | 74 | Michael Burdett | All |
| Motorsport Solutions | 89 | John Whelan | All |
| John McIntyre Racing | 25 | John McIntyre | 4 |
| Triple X Motorsport | 47 | Daniel Gaunt | 5 |
| Andrew Waite | 48 | Andrew Waite | 4–5 |
| TRS Lites Entries ||||
| Mitch Evans | 4 | Mitch Evans | |
| Chris Cox | 12 | Chris Cox | |

## Calendar

| Round | Round | Date | Location | Pole Position | Fastest Lap | Winning Driver | Winning Team |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 2008 ||||||||
| 1 | R1 | 28–30 November | Powerbuilt Raceway at Ruapuna Park | Scott Pye | Mitch Cunningham | Michael Burdett | Motorsport Solutions |
| 1 | R2 | 28–30 November | Powerbuilt Raceway at Ruapuna Park | | Nathan Antunes | Nathan Antunes | European Technique |
| 1 | R3 | 28–30 November | Powerbuilt Raceway at Ruapuna Park | | Scott Pye | Scott Pye | European Technique |
| 2009 ||||||||
| 2 | R1 | 9-11 January | Timaru International Motor Raceway | Scott Pye | Michael Burdett | William Buller | Giles Motorsport |
| 2 | R2 | 9-11 January | Timaru International Motor Raceway | | Scott Pye | Scott Pye | European Technique |
| 2 | R3 | 9-11 January | Timaru International Motor Raceway | | Scott Pye | Scott Pye | European Technique |
| 3 | R1 | 16-18 January | Teretonga Park | Mitch Cunningham | Nathan Antunes | Nathan Antunes | European Technique |
| 3 | R2 | 16-18 January | Teretonga Park | | Scott Pye | Mitch Cunningham | Giles Motorsport |
| 3 | R3 | 16-18 January | Teretonga Park | | William Buller | William Buller | Giles Motorsport |
| 4 | R1 | 23-25 January | Taupo Motorsport Park | Mitch Cunningham | Sam McNeill | Mitch Cunningham | Giles Motorsport |
| 4 | R2 | 23-25 January | Taupo Motorsport Park | | William Buller | Michael Burdett | Motorsport Solutions |
| 4 | R3 | 23-25 January | Taupo Motorsport Park | | Michael Burdett | Mitch Cunningham | Giles Motorsport |
| 5 | R1 | 27 February-1 March | Manfeild Autocourse | Daniel Gaunt | Daniel Gaunt | Earl Bamber | Earl Bamber Racing |
| 5 | R2 | 27 February-1 March | Manfeild Autocourse | | Earl Bamber | Daniel Gaunt | Triple X Motorsport |
| 5 | R3 | 27 February-1 March | Manfeild Autocourse | | Earl Bamber | Daniel Gaunt | Triple X Motorsport |
| 6 | R1 | 13-15 March | Pukekohe Park Raceway | Mitch Cunningham | Mitch Cunningham | Michael Burdett | Motorsport Solutions |
| 6 | R2 | 13-15 March | Pukekohe Park Raceway | | Mitch Cunningham | Michael Burdett | Motorsport Solutions |
| 6 | R3 | 13-15 March | Pukekohe Park Raceway | | Mitch Cunningham | Mitch Cunningham | Giles Motorsport |
| NC | R1 | 17-19 April | Hamilton Street Circuit | Richie Stanaway | Richie Stanaway | Richie Stanaway | Giles Motorsport |
| NC | R2 | 17-19 April | Hamilton Street Circuit | | Nathan Antunes | Richie Stanaway | Giles Motorsport |

* NC – The Hamilton event is not part of the Toyota Racing Series Championship.

## Results

| Pos. | Driver | RUA | TIM | TER | TAU | MAN | PUK | Points |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Mitch Cunningham | 188 | 181 | 209 | 225 | 126 | 181 | 1110 |
| 2 | Sam MacNeill | 162 | 147 | 157 | 163 | 166 | 194 | 989 |
| 3 | Scott Pye | 142 | 204 | 180 | 120 | 91 | 158 | 895 |
| 4 | Michael Burdett | 114 | 159 | 117 | 180 | 159 | 150 | 879 |
| 5 | Daniel Jilesen | 148 | 120 | 148 | 127 | 39 | 150 | 732 |
| 6 | Alastair Wootten | 90 | 114 | 95 | 81 | 136 | 157 | 673 |
| 7 | John Whelan | 129 | 111 | 99 | 114 | 96 | 45 | 594 |
| 8 | Keeley Pudney | 133 | 99 | 88 | 58 | 124 | | 502 |
| 9 | Will Stevens | | 166 | 142 | 183 | | | 491 |
| 10 | William Buller | | 170 | 159 | 138 | | | 467 |
| 11 | Nathan Antunes | 184 | 87 | 120 | | | | 391 |
| 12 | Earl Bamber | | | | | 209 | | 209 |
| 13 | Adderly Fong | | 88 | 102 | | | | 190 |
| 14 | Andrew Waite | | | | 85 | 81 | | 166 |
| 15 | Daniel Gaunt | | | | | 150 | | 150 |
| 16 | Ken Smith | | | | | 87 | 42 | 129 |
| 17 | John McIntyre | | | | 111 | | | 111 |
| 18 | Andy Knight | | | | 89 | | | 89 |
| Pos. | Driver | RUA | TIM | TER | TAU | MAN | PUK | Points |
