Built for New Zealand Competition

Toyota built two Altezza race cars for the 2001/02 New Zealand Touring Car Championship, entering the country's premier circuit racing category with Barrie Thomlinson and Phil Hellebrekers as its drivers.

The programme marked Toyota's return to the championship and immediately made an impression. The Altezzas were prepared specifically for competition, transforming Toyota's compact performance sedan into a serious touring car.

A Fast Start

The Toyota team made a spectacular start to the championship at Pukekohe in November 2001. Barrie Thomlinson topped qualifying and then went on to win all three races at the opening round.

The performance immediately established the Altezza as a major contender against the established Nissan and BMW machinery.

Two Cars, Two Drivers

Toyota entered two Altezzas, with Thomlinson driving one and Phil Hellebrekers the other. Both cars remained competitive throughout the season, giving Toyota a strong presence in the championship.

At the second round at Taupo, Thomlinson again topped qualifying and won the first two races, demonstrating that the pace shown at Pukekohe was no one-off performance.

Fighting for the Championship

The championship remained competitive throughout the season, with Thomlinson eventually emerging as the title winner.

At the end of the 2001/02 season, Thomlinson secured the New Zealand Touring Car Championship in the Toyota Altezza. His victory also ended the long run of BMW and Nissan championship success in the 2.0-litre era.

A Significant Toyota Race Car

The Altezza's championship success demonstrated Toyota's ability to turn its road-going performance sedan into a highly competitive touring car.

For New Zealand motorsport, these cars are significant examples of the country's 2.0-litre touring car era, and this particular example is especially important as the car driven by Barrie Thomlinson during his championship-winning campaign.

Museum Display

This Toyota Altezza preserves an important chapter in Toyota New Zealand's motorsport history and represents the company's successful return to the New Zealand Touring Car Championship.