Motorsport: Yardley prepared for big step up into Toyota Racing Series

Ryan Yardley in action during his rookie test session on Wednesday. Photo / Bruce Jenkins

Last summer's Toyota 86 champion Ryan Yardley got his first real taste of a Toyota Racing Series car yesterday in the rookie test session at Ruapuna in Christchurch.

The 19-year-old secured a drive in the five-round single-seater championship just before Christmas – one of five New Zealanders in the field.

"It was all pretty last minute," Yardley told The Herald. "I knew it could potentially happen two or three weeks out from Christmas.

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"A week out from Christmas I knew it was going to happen.

"At the end of the day we are on the grid and that is the main thing so I am stoked."

The Christchurch teenager knows TRS will be a big step up from what he has done so far but he is realistic with his goals.

"The categories I have done before – Formula Ford and Toyota 86 – I have put myself up against New Zealand's best and pushed myself as hard as I could," he said. "Now I am taking this is to the next level in going up against the world's best.

"Going off the last couple of years, one of these drivers will end up in Formula 1.
"You always want to win but I'm not sure where exactly in the field I will sit – I have only done about 40 laps in the car.

"I want to be up the front, on the podium and winning a few races but that isn't going to happen overnight. Most of these guys have been racing these cars all the time in Europe and I have only done a few laps."

The series begins in Christchurch this weekend.