Tuesday 5th February 2013

Toyota GT86 GT4 racer to hit the track

Britcar GT86 sprouts wing and turbo to graduate into a true GT4 contender

---

It looked like Subaru had stolen a march on Toyota in the BRZ vs GT86 battle to get to the track first with its Japanese Super GT racer, but keen to wrangle back some motorsport limelight Toyota has unveiled its GT86 GT4.

A turbo and aero have unleashed the 86's potential

While it might not be on the same playing field as Subaru’s BRZ GT3000 (that’s more akin to GT3 level competition), its credentials certainly stack up. The Ginetta G50 and Mazda MX-5 GT4 might have some competition on their hands.

That’s because this entry-level endurance racer uses a turbocharged version of the road car’s 2.0-litre direct injection Boxer motor that’s been developed in conjunction with race engine manufacturer Nicholson McLaren Engines. The firm has two Formula 1 World Championships as an engine supplier to its name, so we’ll trust it knows what it’s doing…

According to Gary Blackham, co-director of GPRM – the Buckinghamshire-based motorsport outfit that’s developed the GT86’s chassis – “The new engine from Nicholson McLaren will be capable of between 360 and 400hp, although of course the definitive output figure will be determined by the balance of performance testing.”

Yep. It's got two of these.

The GT86 GT4 is due to undergo an initial shakedown in the UK this month ahead of a European test and a pre-season “balance of performance” process that’ll see the car’s engine power capped to equalise performance across the class – entry-level GT racing has to be competitive if you want to attract the numbers.

The GT86 made its race debut at last year’s Britcar 24 at Silverstone and GPRM kicked off the GT4’s development immediately after that race. It’s already in talks with a customer team that’s keen to race the car in the British GT Championship. With an eighth place finish overall on its debut – competing against higher-spec and much more powerful GT3 machinery – there’s plenty of promise for the Toyota.

Even better, there’s plenty of promise for the average PHer. With up to 400hp from a lightly breathed-on version of the standard road car’s motor, we could very possibly see some of this race car tech trickle down to the show room in due course. Now there’s a thought.

[WMP]

That looks awesome!

[TheRoadWarrior]

[jmesgotav8]

Tasty

[BrettMRC]

Oh hello!

[jamespink]

“The new engine from Nicholson McLaren will be capable of between 360 and 400hp... Now that's what i'm talkin' about! That's a proper package right there!

[Amirhussain]

Liking that.

[chr15b]

want very much

[soad]

Possibility of a turbo-charged road car then?

[anonymous-user]

I don't want you to hit the track I want you to hit the gravel!

[foxhounduk]

FINALLY! 400bhp! THIS is the car it should have been at launch. Great looks and a great power output.

Make this a road car Toyota and you'll be on to a winner.
I for one would buy one!

[Richard-G]

foxhounduk said:

FINALLY! 400bhp! THIS is the car it should have been at launch. Great looks and a great power output.

Make this a road car Toyota and you'll be on to a winner.
I for one would buy one!

to 'roadify' that car with those mods along with the Toyota 5 year warranty you'd be nudging £100k.

that's a different proposition to the base £25k car.

[405dogvan]

"What we want is a back to basics roadcar with RWD, a loose back-end and which is fun at road speeds"

• that is delivered*

"WAH WAH WAH It doesn't have 400bhp and a turbo fking-up the power delivery and making it feel st below 80mph WAH WAH WAH"

As someone said, this in road-form would cost more than some cars which already do more anyway, so it's pointless.

A turbo would completely defeat the point of the car

People need to stop buying cars based on the bigness of numbers on the spec sheet alone - there's more to it than winning pub top trumps.

[foxhounduk]

Richard-G said:

to 'roadify' that car with those mods along with the Toyota 5 year warranty you'd be nudging £100k.

that's a different proposition to the base £25k car.

£100k is probably a bit too much. A turbocharged version should be around the 40k mark. No need for all the deep bucket seat nonsense and rollcage etc.

[0000]

Article said:

That’s because this entry-level endurance racer uses a turbocharged version of the road car’s 2.0-litre direct injection Boxer motor that’s been developed in conjunction with race engine manufacturer Nicholson McLaren Engines.

But it doesn't need a turbo, don't Nicholson McLaren understand the concept?

[RX7]

405dogvan said:

"What "WE" want is a back to basics roadcar with RWD, a loose back-end and which is fun at road speeds"

A turbo would completely defeat the point of the car

People need to stop buying cars based on the bigness of numbers on the spec sheet alone - there's more to it than winning pub top trumps.

Is that the royal WE, as i certainly didnt want this car and nor would it seem do 50% of the others who have posted on endless threads surrounding this car!

I just dont get it, this car was always going to go forced induction at some point in its life (it would seem). Why are the purists getting so emotional, you guys can now have the na version and the guys who wanted more bhp can have the fi version ,everyone is a winner

In fact, it is even better for the purists as you can bang on more about the "point" of this back to basics car to your passenger whilst you are trying to catch up with the guy in the fi version who has just overtaken you, which then begs the all important question surrounding this car, who will be having more "FUN".

People are stopping buying cars with big numbers on their spec sheet, they are buying this But your still complaining, you get your car, they get theirs, whats the problem now?

[Captain Muppet]

Who'd have thought a GT86 thread would end up like all the other GT86 threads?

[mchammer89]

foxhounduk said:

£100k is probably a bit too much. A turbocharged version should be around the 40k mark. No need for all the deep bucket seat nonsense and rollcage etc.

Wow, didn't realise 2 bucket seats and a rollcage cost £60k these days

[The Wookie]

How much aero for a GT4??

[BBS-LM]

I really hope they bring out a Turbo version of this car one day.

[redroadster]

This car has loads of potential, over next few years there will be some brilliant up grade packages ,litchfiel imports already released supercharger conversion and some really nice wheels ,apart from seconhand porches and bmw,s ,this car is next best thing ?