Monday 26th January 2015

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.

[thespannerman]

I'll take mine in the classic Castrol GT-4 livery!

[rhinochopig]

Would be interesting to see the full specs.

The basic car with steel wheels was less than £20k IIRC. Add in the dampers £4k and seq box at £15k, cage £4k, seats + harness at £3k, extinguisgher and cutouts at £1k, plus underbody protection at £2-4k. Engine power suggest breathing + cams + ECU tweak so add in 3k for that. All in that comes to ~ £50k

Seems expensive even with Dev costs factored in.

[Baryonyx]

It's nice to see the GT86 look like something other than a bit of a damp squib.

[sleeky]

Looking forward to seeing these run, hopefully sideways and screaming!

[Baryonyx]

sleeky said:

Looking forward to seeing these run, hopefully sideways and screaming!

The only thing is, if they're competing against modern FWD or AWD cars in an open class, will they be driven with a 'wild' style? The modern rally driver style is very precise and neat, and I can imagine oversteer at every opportunity will damage times compared to the neat style favoured by FWD and AWD cars.

[ZesPak]

Not really into rally, but can one of these actually ever be competitive against a 4WD competitor? Or are there regulations to even the playing field?

[SonicShadow]

rhinochopig said:

Would be interesting to see the full specs.

The basic car with steel wheels was less than £20k IIRC. Add in the dampers £4k and seq box at £15k, cage £4k, seats + harness at £3k, extinguisgher and cutouts at £1k, plus underbody protection at £2-4k. Engine power suggest breathing + cams + ECU tweak so add in 3k for that. All in that comes to ~ £50k

Seems expensive even with Dev costs factored in.

Assuming £72k is the take it away price, £12k of that is VAT. Price is about right IMO.

[anonymous-user]

ZesPak said:

Not really into rally, but can one of these actually ever be competitive against a 4WD competitor? Or are there regulations to even the playing field?

The Ford escorts give them Scoobys a run for their money.

[Maldini35]

SonicShadow said:

rhinochopig said:

Would be interesting to see the full specs.

The basic car with steel wheels was less than £20k IIRC. Add in the dampers £4k and seq box at £15k, cage £4k, seats + harness at £3k, extinguisgher and cutouts at £1k, plus underbody protection at £2-4k. Engine power suggest breathing + cams + ECU tweak so add in 3k for that. All in that comes to ~ £50k

Seems expensive even with Dev costs factored in.

Assuming £72k is the take it away price, £12k of that is VAT. Price is about right IMO.

Is £72k the drive away price or the car + kit of components?

[SonicShadow]

Maldini35 said:

Is £72k the drive away price or the car + kit of components?

"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)"

Seems like it's a kit going from that.

[Maldini35]

SonicShadow said:

Maldini35 said:

Is £72k the drive away price or the car + kit of components?

"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)"

Seems like it's a kit going from that.

Does seem expensive for a kit to make a 250bhp rally car.

[JohnoVR6]

rhinochopig said:

Would be interesting to see the full specs.

The basic car with steel wheels was less than £20k IIRC. Add in the dampers £4k and seq box at £15k, cage £4k, seats + harness at £3k, extinguisgher and cutouts at £1k, plus underbody protection at £2-4k. Engine power suggest breathing + cams + ECU tweak so add in 3k for that. All in that comes to ~ £50k

Seems expensive even with Dev costs factored in.

£72k is for the full car minus the following;

TMG said:

Not included in Toyota GT 86 CS R3 kit

• seats & seat brackets
• harness (safety belt)
• fire extinguishers
• battery
• tools
• rally computer
• rims & tyres
• additionally not included in gravel kit: mudflap, side body protection, diff cover

Lots more info here;

http://www.toyota-motorsport.com/motorsport/en/car...

It's €84k after April 24th too...

[redroadster]

A modern day mk2 escort alternative , could Toyota help club rallying by offering a finance monthly package ? this way people who could not shell out this lump sum could maybe afford a reasonable payment,motorsport is expensive but with a package like I have suggested could work for many people.

[daytona365]

As we all know the initial purchase price is but a fraction of the costs of a seasons racing.......You have to be very well heeled to take part in any form of serious motorsport.

[Emeye]

So if I want to do tarmac and gravel rallies I'd need one of each spec, so £144k?

[GravelBen]

ZesPak said:

Not really into rally, but can one of these actually ever be competitive against a 4WD competitor? Or are there regulations to even the playing field?

Its specced for the R3 class, which is 2wd only.

[MadDog1962]

The power figure of just 235hp puzzles me. Seems low. But I guess the reduced weight compensates. Why no turbo?

I thoroughly enjoyed my own GT86 (FR-S). However, although nothing went wrong with mine, I got the impression that it would not take a physical beating. If they've lost 170 kg of weight I'd be interested to know from where and how.

[redroadster]

MadDog1962 said:

The power figure of just 235hp puzzles me. Seems low. But I guess the reduced weight compensates. Why no turbo?

I thoroughly enjoyed my own GT86 (FR-S). However, although nothing went wrong with mine, I got the impression that it would not take a physical beating. If they've lost 170 kg of weight I'd be interested to know from where and how.

Just stripping out all the interior and soundproofing will make up a lot of the weight reduction ,lighter wheels etc it's not that big of a weight reduction look at the Bentley continental racer they have took a whole tonne in weight out of the road car !

[SonicShadow]

MadDog1962 said:

The power figure of just 235hp puzzles me. Seems low. But I guess the reduced weight compensates. Why no turbo?

Look up the regulations for the R3 class. 1600cc to 2000cc must be naturally aspirated, under 1600cc can be forced induction.

The GT86's peak power is higher than the Citroen DS3 in the same class, though I would imagine the DS3 would have more torque across the rev range which will offset that.

[Robert Elise]

MadDog1962 said:

I thoroughly enjoyed my own GT86 (FR-S). However, although nothing went wrong with mine, I got the impression that it would not take a physical beating.

GT86 doesn't insulate you from the drivetrain, so it may feel more frail than it actually is. By contrast a lot of cars that do eliminate NVH and cushion the drivetrain do breakdown... Time will tell..