Toyota to launch new 86 race car at CRC Speedshow

Toyota will officially launch its new TR 86 race car and race series to the public at next month’s CRC Speedshow.

The first New Zealand-built race version of the 86 sports coupe, chassis #001, will be on display at the show and there will be interactive seminars for people interested in the cars as the 86 Racing Series builds momentum toward its first round in November.

Motorsport New Zealand has confirmed the series will have full Motorsport NZ championship status in its inaugural year.

The TR 86 race car, the first of 20, will be displayed on Stand 51 at the CRC Speedshow, which is New Zealand’s biggest motorsport and automotive event. Members of the Toyota Racing team including Barrie Thomlinson, Sam MacNeill and Toyota New Zealand’s John Fowke and Steve Boyce will staff the stand and be available to answer questions.

At the show, there will be two 30 minute information sessions per day for those interested in being part of the series.

Organisers will confirm the dates and venues for the seven rounds of the inaugural championship and reveal the full specification of the race cars.

Series sponsors will also be announced, and the television coverage for the series will be outlined.
With strong interest in the cars and the series already, Toyota has confirmed the first 15 cars ordered will come complete with a free Toyota roll-away tool chest. A further tool chest will also be awarded as a ‘door prize’ for attendees of the TR 86 seminars.

Barrie Thomlinson says the prototype TR 86 was displayed at the five-round Toyota Racing Series in January and February and the response from race-goers has been ‘exceptionally positive’.

In early June the TR 86 prototype was shown to media alongside the base car it is built from, the 86 RC.  Pricing was confirmed at that point for a ‘turn key’ race car delivered to customers with a comprehensive build specification that includes a FIA six point roll cage, race seat and harness, racing steering wheel, adjustable race suspension, competition brakes, unique engine specification and exhaust along with a spare set of race wheels and Motec data dashboard.

Competitors only need to show up with a competition licence and personal safety gear such as helmet and overalls to go racing.

The series build programme is under way and two cars have already been sold. There are currently 12 cars in build, and only cars in the initial build of 20 will be eligible to race in the inaugural series. There will be a test day and car handover event at Manfeild in October, giving new owners a chance to try their cars before the first round at Cromwell’s Highlands Motorsport Park in November.

The CRC Speedshow takes place at Auckland’s ASB Showgrounds during the weekend of 20 and 21 July.