How a GP is thriving in a COVID-free territory

The New Zealand Grand Prix's mix of rising talent and big-name stars thrilled the crowds (yes, remember crowds?) assembled for the Toyota Racing Series meeting at Hampton Downs last weekend and left distant observers craving a repeat

Marcus Simmons Jan 26, 2021, 4:21 PM

A huge crowd, a thrilling motor race that culminated in a back-to-front victory, and not one person wearing a mask. And yes, I'm talking about something that happened in 2021, not 1921.

As a country, New Zealand and its leadership have provided an example of calm dignity and let's-get-this-sorted-out proactiveness to the rest of the world in the wake of any recent crises, far at odds with the floundering bumblers hampering the progress of much of the planet. Such methodology also seems to have benefited its motorsport scene, brilliantly illustrated by last weekend's incredibly successful New Zealand Grand Prix opening round of the Toyota Racing Series at Hampton Downs.

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Author Marcus Simmons

Marcus Simmons is the Deputy Editor of Autosport magazine. As a child he was a regular on the chalk banks of Thruxton – hence his unhealthy obsession with 1970s Formula 2 and F3 – before he became an MSA timekeeper at the age of 17. At 19, his reporting debut for Motoring News arguably overshadowed Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ goal as the sporting moment of June 1986, and he joined the staff in 1990 after graduating from his degree course in Plymouth. A parallel Formula First career – which was as incident-packed as his childhood exploits in show-jumping and hunter trials – finished when he wrote off his car and put himself in hospital in 1991.

Marcus moved to Autosport in the summer of 1996. Since then he has had two stints as a freelancer and a brief spell as editor of Motor Sport magazine, during which the revered green cover was revived, before he rejoined Autosport in 2008. He lives in Teddington with his wife (who, gratifyingly, grew up within earshot of Castle Combe), daughter, stepson, dog, cat and guitars, and additionally has an adult daughter and stepson.