Together with the new generation TOYOTA GR86 road car launch in 2022, there is also a new racing version that will fill 34 cars TGRA series 86 in 2024 – and we tried it at Sydney Motorsport Park.
Just like the road car, the visual changes between the current Toyota 86 racer and the all-new GR86 are subtle at best, except for the fact that the new car features a naturally aspirated 4-cylinder Boxer engine. 2.4 liters bigger, more powerful engine, just like the road version.
To get to the full race specs, the cars come from the road car factory at Neal Bates Motorsport, where they are stripped down and the enormous task of creating a competitive racer catches the eye. head.
While Neal Bates admits both the old and new versions of the Toyota racecar are the same, he told us the new TGRA 86 has more power (from 10kW to 180kW).
“The new car rides a bit more and there’s no traction control or the option to have it, so they’re pretty lively and the extra power and torque from the corners is substantial compared to the car. old car.”
I’m pretty sure Neal was trying to scare away a select few media outlets to test drive the car with a bit of a liveliness and no traction control system. And to some extent it worked, but the fact that we could only afford one lap in the pilot’s seat, just as good.
Still, the car seemed to have plenty of grip and rock-solid stability, even at the limit, as Zach Bates demonstrated at the end of the day, this time when I was riding a shotgun.
Interestingly, the six-speed manual transmission is completely unchanged from the standard road car transmission, although we were told that the flywheel is lighter, giving a slightly different clutch feel when I found out. on his only lap. whole circuit.
Electric power steering is also part of the standard steering on the GR86, and it’s comfortably light.
As far as fabrication goes, after the cars are dismantled, a full size roll cage will be installed and painted with 40mm main rods, before a set of headers is added to the piping system. discharge ‘Control TGRA 86’. The GR86 racer also uses the ECU of the Motec M150 power management system, as well as the C125 control panel (display) and data logger – both series controllers.
The front and rear suspension are independent MacPherson struts using MCA springs and shock absorbers, while the brakes are from AP Racing using the same 330 mm x 28 mm front discs with four-piston calipers and split discs. rear track 316 mm x 20 mm with two-piston brake calipers like the previous version.
Like most components on the new GR86 racing car, the wheel and tire package is the controls, featuring 18-inch x 8-inch Italian-made OZ Racing wheels at all corners, wrapped in upholstery. with Dunlop Direzza Z3 all-weather tyres. There are no specific ‘wet’ tires used by many racing cars – helping to keep costs down.
Not only is the 86th year the one-make 86 series race is held as a support category for the highest-grossing V8 Supercar category, Toyota also initiated a new second-class scholarship chain to meet the needs Unprecedented demand from racing teams and new riders looking to line up on what was already a full grid.
The new series began as part of three preliminary rounds, using the same Toyota GR86 race car as the feature series cars for what should have been some of the closest wheel races. domestic.
How much does Toyota TGRA86 cost?
The new TGRA 86 race car is sold by Neal Bates Motorsport as a turnkey package for $89,990 (not on the road here, friends).
It’s one of the cheapest (if not the cheapest) racing series in Australia.
How is the inside of the Toyota TGRA86?
It fits people who don’t have a six pack, and I don’t mean soft drinks.
The full roll cage stretches to all four corners with 44mm thick main bars, so you really need to be flexible enough to twist or be a shape-shifter to fall into the overflowing Racetech barrel.
And then you’ll need to do it all again with a four-point race belt. Otherwise, it’s a great seat and is mounted perfectly behind the Alcantara-wrapped three-spoke Sabelt steering wheel.
Most of the dashboard from the GR86 car remains, but there’s a small Motec driver display and data logger mounted in front of the standard equipment display.
The infotainment screen has also been replaced with a control panel containing a number of key buttons and switches including the main switch, alarm, display mode and pit lane speed limiter.
You still get both gearshift levers, the leather-wrapped handbrake lever, the HVAC dial, the start/stop button and the standard gear lever. There are also door panels, but they are lightweight components.
And, that’s about it.
What’s under the bonnet of the Toyota TGRA86?
It is a 2.4-liter four-cylinder Boxer engine out of the standard GR86 road car, making 180kW power and 250Nm Torque is sent exclusively to the rear wheels through a standard six-speed manual transmission.
While we don’t know the final weight of the GR86 Race Car yet, expect it to be significantly lighter than a road car and therefore faster than the 0-100 km/h sprint time of 6.3 seconds. . It certainly feels faster from the start.
How to Drive Toyota TGRA86?
The Racetech bucket seat doesn’t slip at all, so aside from having to stretch my legs out more than usual to reach the pedals, I was completely comfortable when I pulled the handlebars closer.
Then you just need to turn on the main switch before pressing the start button.
It’s practically like driving a car on the road – only it’s so much better, with loads of feedback, immediacy and feedback to the pedals and steering wheel.
If only Toyota did a ‘ClubSport’ version of the GR86 with some trim removed to be lighter for race days, but with half a cage and a set of lightweight OZ wheels just like the ones equipped. on a race car. I think they’ll sell like hot cakes, but I’d love to hear your thoughts on this idea.
The first thing you notice when starting a four-pot engine is the intense exhaust it makes.
Interestingly, the GR86 racer only has a single exhaust end instead of both being fitted to the road car. According to Neal Bates, the car works perfectly with just one, if not better in my opinion.
It’s the great sound that makes the driving experience so much more enjoyable from the driver’s perspective. It also seems to rev more freely than the road car, making mid-corner throttle easy and power off the corner more confident.
Head-to-toe gearshifts also feel smoother and less rough than the GR86, consistently. Downshift from Wednesday to Monday it’s all so easy – I can only think of all this thanks to the lighter flywheel and the additional hum of the engine, which all work in sync to make the racing car look sharp noticeably sharper and more vivid.
The Sabelt steering wheel looks and feels like an old-fashioned Momo device and is a pleasure to hold in the hand, while the weight of the steering wheel itself is lighter but at the same time very precise. The car goes exactly where you point and can be perfectly positioned to hit those peaks into the SMP.
Interestingly, the brakes, while not huge by today’s standards, offer good pedaling feel and solid stopping power.
While his ex-partner Neal Bates did a great job of scaring some people about the car’s newfound power and vibrancy into the magazines, in reality the GR86 racer feels calm, excellent responsiveness and agility through corners. Not sketchy at all – in fact, it’s one of the easiest race cars I’ve ever had the pleasure of driving.
And, that’s only after one please… a few more would be great.
You get what?
Toyota TGRA 86 racing car highlights:
- Engine type: 2.4L 4-cylinder Boxer engine (OEM standard)
- Engine name: FA24
- Valve mechanism: 16 DOHC . valves
- Fuel system: Combination of direct injection and port injection
- Cylinder capacity: 2388cc
- Diameter x stroke (mm): 94.0 x 86.0
- Compression ratio: 12.5:1
- Exhaust: TGRA 86 . Exhaust Control
- ECU: Motec M150 energy management system and C125 monitor/recorder (TGRA 86 control item)
- Maximum power: 180kW
- Driveway type: Rear-wheel drive
- Transmission: 6-speed manual (OEM standard transmission with lighter flywheel)
- Steering system: Electric power steering
- Front brake: 330mm x 28mm slotted disc, four-piston AP Racing brake calipers (Control TGRA 86 item)
- Rear brake: 316mm x 20mm slotted disc, two-piston AP racing brake calipers (Control TGRA 86 item)
- Front suspension: Independent MacPherson strut with MCA shock absorbers and springs (86-item TGRA control)
- Rear suspension: Independent MacPherson strut with MCA shock absorbers and springs (Control TGRA 86 item)
- Wheels: 18 inch x 8 inch OZ Racing wheels (Control TGRA 86 item)
- Tires: Dunlop Direzza Z3 (Control TGRA 86 item)
- Roll cage: TGRA 86 . roll cage control
Size:
- Minimum dry weight: TBC
- Length: 4265mm
- Width: 1775mm
- Height: 1310mm
- Wheelbase: 2575mm
How much does it cost to run a Toyota TGRA86?
While we won’t know the cost of parts and consumables until the 2024 TGRA 86 Race Series starts next year, almost all components are control items that will be used. applied on both the main field of 34 cars, as well as the new Scholarship Series.
So economies of scale should keep prices as low as possible, if the price of the car itself is anything to go by.
CarExpert undertakes TOYOTA TGRA86
Aside from the all-too-common difficulty of stuffing myself into a racing barrel, the new GR86 race car is one of the easiest and most satisfying all-round race cars I’ve ever had the pleasure of driving.
In fact, you’ll get used to it much faster than you would on the GR86 – I’m not kidding. Extra power and 6kW more travel feel than the road version on paper.
Every mechanical control is sharp and responds beautifully, even in the smallest increments.
The accelerator, steering, gearshifts and brakes all provide excellent feedback, making this race car an easy car to drive quickly. If only we had more lap time.
Neal Bates and his team did a great job, but what about the GR86’s limited-edition ‘Clubsport’ lightweight for track and pony show days.
Click image for full gallery
THAN: Everything Toyota GR86
