Kiwi brains bringing comfort to racers
A Kiwi is returning to his motorsport roots and fitting top racing seats into all the cars that will be competing in the 2021 Castrol Toyota Racing Series.
Vaughan Cartwright is the managing director and founder of UK-based Real Equipe, which is supplying custom race seat kits for drivers after becoming an official supplier partner for the competition.
Real is known throughout Europe, working with a number of manufacturers, teams and drivers in international action such as Formula One, Two and Three, the World Endurance Championship, and Formula E.
Cartwright says: “The opportunity to showcase Real systems with Toyota Gazoo Racing New Zealand (TGRNZ) is both professionally and personally very exciting.
“I grew up in New Zealand and cut my teeth as a mechanic in Formula Atlantic with Paul Radisich and Greg Murphy and to be now involved in the premier single seater category through Real is especially rewarding.”
The change to Real’s state-of-the-art custom seats for the Toyota FT60s is part of TGRNZ’s on-going development to provide its drivers with the most advanced and safest racing.
Cartwright says his company takes an analytical approach ensuring its race seat provides drivers with optimum support, comfort and safety.
“Aside from the steering wheel and pedals, the seat is what ‘connects’ a driver to the car, so it’s clearly obvious every aspect of what the seat must do is correct, ensuring drivers’ position, vision, feedback and control – thereby maximising driver confidence,” he adds.
Nicolas Caillol, series category manager, says development on the new FT60 car has continued despite the Covid-19 pandemic disrupting motorsport at home and abroad.
“We’re constantly trying to improve every aspect of the car and the Castrol TRS experience and this is one of course, that directly affects the driver,” he notes.
“Comfort and safety for any driver are paramount and in Real we believe we have the best solution available to us as we continue to improve our product.”
The 2021 Castrol Toyota Racing season will run over a shortened three weekend schedule, kicking off with the New Zealand Grand Prix at Hampton Downs Motorsport Park over the weekend of January 23-24.
