Road to Indy and Toyota GAZOO Racing New Zealand Announce Partnership

Jonny Baker, Dan Andersen and Nicolas Caillol

The Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires and Toyota GAZOO Racing New Zealand today announced a partnership that will see up-and-coming drivers afforded new opportunities in both series to further their racing careers. Several drivers in the Road to Indy have already taken advantage of the opportunity to sharpen their skills in the off-season by participating in the January/February Castrol Toyota Racing Series.

The new partnership will offer the top-three finishers in the Road to Indy ladder series – the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship, the Indy Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Cooper Tires and Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires – a waived entry fee (NZ$5,000, approximately $3,300 USD) for the 2020 Castrol Toyota Racing Series season to hone their skills with significant track time at five circuits on New Zealand’s North and South Islands aboard the newly unveiled state-of-the-art Tatuus FT-60.

For drivers who have competed in all five rounds of the 2019 Castrol Toyota Racing Series, an opportunity to test the waters in either USF2000, Indy Pro 2000 or Indy Lights is on offer with entry fees waived for the traditional two-day Chris Griffis Memorial test this fall or the two-day Spring Training outing the beginning of next year. All drivers will also receive one set of Cooper tires for the test event they select.

In addition, joint marketing programs will be implemented to showcase the Road to Indy as an excellent career option for aspiring young drivers who want to follow the path of New Zealand racing legend Scott Dixon, five-time NTT IndyCar Series champion, Indianapolis 500 winner and former Indy Lights champion, and to highlight the benefits of off-season training in the Castrol Toyota Racing Series in preparation for full-season campaigns.

“We are very pleased to announce our new partnership with Toyota GAZOO Racing," said Dan Andersen, Owner and CEO of Andersen Promotions. “This is a great opportunity for our drivers to compete against some of the best young competitors in the world. With their schedule of five triple-headers in a row, our drivers will have plenty of track time in equipment that is relevant, further strengthening their skills and helping to prepare them for the next step on our ladder.

Tatuus FT-60

“We are also excited to offer the opportunity for their drivers to come and see what the Road to Indy is all about. Both the Chris Griffis test and Spring Training provide an excellent opportunity for plenty of seat time, and drivers can decide what level on the ladder is appropriate for them. With USF2000 and Indy Pro 2000 using the Tatuus chassis and Sadev six-speed sequential gearbox – which are also used by the Toyota series – drivers will be quick to adapt to our equipment packages."

The Castrol Toyota Racing Series 2020 schedule will kick off on January 17 at Highlands Motorsport Park followed by Teretonga Park (January 24-26), Hampton Downs Motorsports Park (January 31-February 2), Pukekohe or Taupo – TBC (February 7-9) and Manfeild – Circuit Chris Amon (February 14-16).

“Scott Dixon is a shining light for many young drivers in New Zealand and indeed many who come and compete in the Castrol Toyota Racing Series," said Nicolas Caillol, Castrol Toyota Racing Series Category Manager. “Any initiative that eases the path into the U.S. racing scene or creates potential opportunities will be a welcome one. Other IndyCar drivers like Indy 500 Rookie of the Year Santino Ferrucci and Jordan King have also benefited from their time competing in New Zealand in January and February and we'd love to see more coming to develop their skills in our series as part of their development path. It's now a little bit easier for drivers on that development path.

About the Castrol Toyota Racing Series: Delivering fast, competitive racing, New Zealand's premier single-seater category attracts drivers from around the globe. The Castrol Toyota Racing Series (TRS) is New Zealand's fastest racing category providing winter training in a southern hemisphere summer. Moving into the 16th season as New Zealand's premier category, TRS is as exciting, fast and closely fought as ever. The only class in New Zealand motorsport that offers aspiring racers vital experience with wings, slicks and composite technologies, TRS is Toyota's commitment to nurturing our next generation of top level racing talent. No other manufacturer has made the same long term commitment to motorsport as Toyota New Zealand. More information can be found at www.toyotagazooracing.co.nz.

About the Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires: The Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires is one of the most successful driver development programs in the world. Comprised of Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires, the Indy Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Cooper Tires and the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship, the ladder system provides a unique, scholarship-funded path to the NTT IndyCar Series and Indianapolis 500. The NTT IndyCar Series grid is comprised of numerous drivers who have come through the Road to Indy. In 2019, 23 of the 33 starters in the Indianapolis 500 were graduates including nine Indy Lights champions. The mission of the Road to Indy is to develop and advance, and that includes not only drivers but teams and personnel as well. More information can be found at www.roadtoindy.info, www.indylights.com, www.indypro2000.com, www.usf2000.com, www.roadtoindy.tv and www.indycar.com.