2022 New Zealand Grand Prix canceled

The New Zealand Grand Prix will not be held for the first time since 2001. Recently, the race, which has in its honor roll many illustrious names such as Stirling Moss, Jack Brabham, Bruce McLaren or Jackie Stewart, has become the flagship of the Toyota Racing series Series, a championship held in winter, and summer in New Zealand, which has attracted many hardcore drivers in Formula 2, Formula 3, Formula Renault or Formula 4. In fact, Lance Stroll and Lando Norris wrote their names on the New Zealand GP honor roll in 2000. 2015 and 2016 respectively on their journey towards the Formula Toyota New Zealand title.

However, restrictions imposed by the New Zealand government led Nicholas Cayol, motorsports director at Toyota NZ, to scale back the championship, which in 2021 saw only seven cars initially in the last two rounds of the Hampton Downs and Manfield. The situation was different on the opening stage, as 16 drivers, all from New Zealand, took part in the entire weekend, once again at Hampton Downs, drawn by the magic of the prestigious Grand Prix. The achievement went to Shane Van Gisbergen (pictured), a well-known Australian Supercars champion, with whom he won the title in 2016 and 2021, and who won all three races, with a stunning comeback from his own lane. 3, one is valid to customize the 66th edition of the GP.

For 2022, the organizer has decided to suspend the Toyota Racing Series, which still competes in the New Zealand Grand Prix in one test, again with the Tatuus FT-60, sisters to Formula Regional T-318s used in Europe and Asia. However, the recent government decision on Covid prevention measures effectively excluded all pilots from New Zealand’s South Island (Hampton Downs is located in the North Island) and Australia from competition. It’s impossible to continue like this and offer a level of competition worthy of GP status, and so it was scrapped.