Photo: Toyota Australia
Toyota GT 86 (Scion FR-S in the United States) will race in the Toyota 86 Pro-Am series under the official banner of Toyota Racing Australia starting next year, with work already being underway on a race package.
Toyota Australia is determined to mix affordability and performance even when it comes to motorsport, that’s why the Toyota GT 86 / Scion FR-S / Subaru BRZ is considered the perfect car for the job.
But since one can’t simply throw a factory-spec car in the middle of a race track battle, Neal Bates Motorsport was invited to join the party. They said yes to the invitation and have already developed and tested a race package that includes a tuned suspension, brakes, ECU, oil cooler, rims and tires plus the additional safety gear.
“The Toyota 86 is such a competent car that it has just been a matter of building race-durable components into it without interfering with its character,” said Neal Bates, four times Australian Rally champion and owner of Neal Bates Motorsport.
In standard spec, the Toyota GT 86 is good for 200 HP at 7,000 rpm and a maximum torque of 205 Nm (151 lb-ft) in the 6,400-6,600 rpm interval. The vehicle’s weight is rated at 1,222 kg (2,694 lbs) but NBM’s work should improve these figures once the racing pack gets the green light and is installed on the race car.
“The aim is to engineer a car that is pretty much bullet-proof in racing conditions while making it a satisfying and rewarding experience for its driver. It’s ride, response and feedback is phenomenal and very predictable,” Bates added.
We're sure Toyota GT 86 has a big fan base in Australia, as it does around the world. Unfortunately, fans would have to wait for another year before seeing the Toyota 86 GT Pro-Am in action. However, it might be worth the wait, knowing the coupe's playful character.
But since one can’t simply throw a factory-spec car in the middle of a race track battle, Neal Bates Motorsport was invited to join the party. They said yes to the invitation and have already developed and tested a race package that includes a tuned suspension, brakes, ECU, oil cooler, rims and tires plus the additional safety gear.
“The Toyota 86 is such a competent car that it has just been a matter of building race-durable components into it without interfering with its character,” said Neal Bates, four times Australian Rally champion and owner of Neal Bates Motorsport.
In standard spec, the Toyota GT 86 is good for 200 HP at 7,000 rpm and a maximum torque of 205 Nm (151 lb-ft) in the 6,400-6,600 rpm interval. The vehicle’s weight is rated at 1,222 kg (2,694 lbs) but NBM’s work should improve these figures once the racing pack gets the green light and is installed on the race car.
“The aim is to engineer a car that is pretty much bullet-proof in racing conditions while making it a satisfying and rewarding experience for its driver. It’s ride, response and feedback is phenomenal and very predictable,” Bates added.
We're sure Toyota GT 86 has a big fan base in Australia, as it does around the world. Unfortunately, fans would have to wait for another year before seeing the Toyota 86 GT Pro-Am in action. However, it might be worth the wait, knowing the coupe's playful character.
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