The summer motor racing series has just started, yet at Manfeild the focus is on how the premier category’s championship will end.

Changes in the series’ promotion at national level increase the involvement of circuit operator Manfeild Park Trust and resident club Motorsport Manawatu in the February 8-10 New Zealand Grand Prix.

The meeting is where the flagship Toyota Racing Series will conclude with a battle for the nation’s ultimate circuit-racing prize.

In addition to the NZGP, the country’s biggest annual circuit-racing occasion will also deliver racing for seven other classes, from series standards like Formula Ford and NZV8, with its freshly-built TLX cars, to locally-generated initiatives including the new feature of a Saturday afternoon endurance challenge with the incentive of a New Zealand championship title.

Classics from the Motorsport Manawatu winter series are joined by cars from throughout the North Island for this special round while Formula First and Mazda Pro7 drivers work toward their own championship titles. Adding additional glamour to the event the Trust-initiated Miss New Zealand Grand Prix competition.

The programme has been largely planned and undertaken locally, a departure from previous years when the sport’s governing body has played a more direct role.

“The changed circumstances affecting the summer series have resulted in the host circuits being encouraged to take a more active role in running their respective rounds,” explained Manfeild Park Trust chief executive Heather Verry.

“This is not of our making and has created a challenge for all in motorsport, but it is one that we at Manfeild are approaching in good heart and with a very positive frame of mind.

“The Manawatu region is granted a special privilege in having the custodianship of the New Zealand Grand Prix – it is the nation’s most important motorsport prize and of international significance.

“Manfeild Park Trust and the Manawatu Car Club, the permit holder, are committed to ensuring that every aspect of the 2013 meeting will be to a standard that is wholly appropriate to the occasion.”

The Toyota Racing single-seater category fostered by Palmerston North-domiciled Toyota New Zealand remains in excellent shape, with a quality subscription including a good count of overseas’ drivers, five being returnees from last summer’s intense battle.

In addition to a core of Kiwis headed by defending champion and 2012 NZGP winner Nick Cassidy there are drivers from Canada, Ireland, Puerto Rico, Austria, Australia, the Netherlands, Brazil, Singapore, Thailand, England, Colombia, Malaysia and Norway.

“TRS is setting a precedent which is appropriate given its quality; this category has proven itself as the place to be for young stars looking to make a break into the highest levels of motor-racing,” Mrs Verry said.

“Toyota New Zealand has long been a fantastic supporter of Manfeild and will do us proud with their 2013 championship.”

With the main act assured, Manfeild Park Trust and Motorsport Manawatu, the ‘face’ of the Manawatu Car Club, have been able to focus on organizing support categories additional to those usually seen in the summer.

“A relatively tight timeframe has not daunted Motorsport Manawatu manager Julian Hardy from creating a very exciting programme that we believe will meet the expectations of race fans.

“It is too early to divulge the full schedule and, notwithstanding that this is an obvious period of change for national motorsport, we are satisfied that we will have something for all tastes that is also sympathetic to the national categories.”