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Toyota Avensis BTCC Previewed

Toyota Avensis NGTC photoToyota Avensis NGTC photoToyota Avensis NGTC photo
The Toyota Avensis was never the most performance-orientated vehicle or the most aggressive car in its segment. The Avensis relies on other assets, such as practicality and reliability, to attract buyers.

However, Toyota has decided that it is time for a change. Don’t go shouting in excitement yet, the vehicle isn’t going to become a sporty machine that delivers one driving thrill after another. Instead, Toyota is planing a British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) incarnation of the Avensis.

Dubbed the Toyota Avensis Next Generation Touring Car, the racing concept is set to make its track debut in the final round of this year’s Dunlop MSA BTCC. The Avensis NGTC will take part in the first public race at Brands Hatch on October 9-10, being driven by James Thompson, who holds two BTCC titles.

The company has released a set of artist drawings that offers a preview of the future racer. The vehicle is currently coming to life in the workshops of GPR Motorsport (these are located in Buckingham) as a test and development model that meets new BTCC regulations.

Toyota has offered GPR Motorsport a donor car, together with a bodyshell to build to the new specification that will become effective starting from next year’s season. The automotive producer isn’t willing to re-enter the championship with a works team, but will offer support to TOCA (Touring Car Association, the organizers of the series).

Toyota has no plans to re-enter the championship with a works team, but has been pleased to lend its support to TOCA, appropriately with a British-built car - Avensis is manufactured at Burnaston in Derbyshire, close to the Donington Park race circuit,” stated the press release.
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About the author: Andrei Tutu
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In his quest to bring you the most impressive automotive creations, Andrei relies on learning as a superpower. There's quite a bit of room in the garage that is this aficionado's heart, so factory-condition classics and widebody contraptions with turbos poking through the hood can peacefully coexist.
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