Toyota unveils the new GR86 racecar
In October, Toyota unveiled the new GR86 racecar at the TGRA 86 Series awards dinner at Bathurst. The new racecar will make its official debut in the 2024 TGRA 86 Series. Based on the GR86, it’s now available for competitors to order with a turnkey package priced at $89,990.
Developed exclusively by Neal Bates Motorsport, the much-anticipated racecar embraces a whole gamut of exciting features, including a full roll cage, race seat and six-point harness, motorsport spec steering wheel, ECU and instruments, control wheels and tyres in addition to upgraded suspension, brakes, exhaust, oil cooler and clutch.
Although the roadgoing Toyota GR86 is an impressive vehicle in its own right, Neal Bates explains that there is still a whole lot of work that goes into turning a road car into a racecar. He explains the process behind the finished product: “when we receive the car, we strip it back to a bare shell, remove all of the wiring, take all the interior out, spare wheel – everything – to get it as light and as minimal as we can have it.”
From there, the ultra-light vehicle is then fitted with custom enhancements for expert handling, braking and everything in between. The new GR86 racecar also comes with a bigger engine boasting a 2.4L capacity, which has significantly more power than the previous 86. Together making it a coveted vehicle for the track.
Lachlan Gibbons wins first place at the 2022 TGRA 86 Series.
Lachlan Gibbons took the title at this year’s TGRA 86 Series at Bathurst. Although they didn’t snatch the top spot, Zach Bates and Jobe Stewart also had success at this year’s race. The top three podium places each received prize money of $50,000, $30,000 and $15,000 for first, second and third respectively.
Bates and Stewart going head to head.
Approximately 32 racecars will be available for competitors to order for the 2024 TGRA 86 Series season and other performance specifications will be confirmed once final testing and validation is completed later this year.
Speaking on the unveiling, Toyota Australia Chief Marketing Officer Vin Naidoo: “Neal Bates and his team have worked hard to make this an incredibly sharp, affordable racecar that I’m sure will continue to make the TGRA 86 Series one of the most hotly contested on the Australian Motorsport calendar.”
Unpack more of the action at the TGRA 86 Series in the GAZOO Racing Journal Vol 7 here.
Harry and Zach Bates kitting out for the race.
