More details for GT86 rally car

Toyota drops the spec for its 'R3' GT86 rally car, yours for around £72K

Good news for anybody who thinks the world needs more rear-drive rally cars. Because Toyota has announced finalised specs for the GT86 CS-R3, the clubman-spec car that is being fully homologated to compete in national and international events.

The world needs more RWD rally cars, right?

Powertrain gains are relatively modest, with the familiar 2.0-litre flat four boosted to a claimed 235hp and breathing through an HJS racing exhaust and manifold. Transmission duties are handled by a sequential six-speed Drenth gearbox, there are adjustable Reiger dampers and various options for gearbox ratios. It weighs 1,080kg - bang on the official homologation requirement, unsurprisingly. Toyota is selling the car in either gravel or tarmac spec for 79,000 euros before VAT for orders placed before the 24th April (that's £72,000 all-in at current exchange rates), with the first cars being delivered (as build-it-yourself kits) in early May.

After the requisite spannerwork, buyers will have what should be a turnkey rally car that will be homologated under the R3 regulations to compete in pretty much all national and international events. And although most drivers are likely to be measuring themselves against other GT86s, it will be interesting to see how the RWD Toyota copes with rivals like the front-drive Citroen DS3-R3 Max.

And we're also hoping that some of the mechanical mods might find their way onto road-going GT86s as well.