Monday 30th July 2012

GT86 revives classic colours for Britcar 24

GT86 harks back to BTCC-era Corolla AE86 for its atack on the Britcar 24

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Toyota is to pitch its new GT86 against a gaggle of other production-spec racers including M3s, MX-5s and Ginetta G40s in the Britcar 24 hours, and will revive a classic racing livery in the process.

SP3 class win for Gazoo GT86 at N24

The GT86 has already competed in near-production trim (and taken a class win) in the Nurburgring 24 hours in the hands of Gazoo Racing and Toyota's Swiss importer, but the Britcar entry revives the famous Toyota Team GB moniker, and is being developed by GPRM, the folks behind the BTCC Toyota Avensis cars.

The red-and-white livery, meanwhile, echoes the 1987 colours of the BTCC car of Chris Hodgetts. Hodgetts won both the 1986 and 1987 championships with the rear-drive AE86 Corolla - the GT86's spiritual predecessor - albeit thanks to a slightly odd class system that allowed him to dominate despite being a couple of hundred horsepower down on the fastest cars.

New paint recalls 1980s BTCC racer

But while the paint scheme of the car echoes 1980s BTCC success, the name also recalls Rallying and BTCC successes of the 80s and 90s, with Toyota Team GB making its last appearance in the 1995 BTCC when it fielded a pair of Carina Es.

We wish the return of Toyota Team GB every success in the Brritcar, and would like to thank them for the opportunity to post this nostalgia-tastic video of the opening roundof the 1987 BTCC...

 

[tinkertaylor]

looks excellent!

[namnol]

Thats cool. Shame you need BTCC budget to get anywhere near the Britcar 24hr.

[ribiero]

Flipping Love seeing this, quite scared though that britcar money-to-compete bar is being raised for britcar, the UK need a budget 24hr

Rob

[kaiowas]

ribiero said:

Flipping Love seeing this, quite scared though that britcar money-to-compete bar is being raised for britcar, the UK need a budget 24hr

Rob

It doesn't get much more 'budget' than the 2CV race.

[soad]

Like it.

[ribiero]

kaiowas said:

It doesn't get much more 'budget' than the 2CV race.

good shout

[garypotter]

Great looking car - love it

[thewheelman]

garypotter said:

Great looking car - love it

+1

[Boonster]

Get Stefan Hodgetts in the car and then complete the link - Mad Monk Jnr!! Top driver and arguably someone who should be in BTC with decent team

[Sexual Chocolate]

Why race this when you can race a m3.


What's the deal with the old regs then? Why did the ae86 dominate?

[vz-r_dave]

Sexual Chocolate said:

Why race this when you can race a m3.


What's the deal with the old regs then? Why did the ae86 dominate?

Why race an M3 when you can race a Veyron? Why race at all? In fact what is the point of racing? Why are we here?

[Jellymonster]

vz-r_dave said:

Sexual Chocolate said:

Why race this when you can race a m3.


What's the deal with the old regs then? Why did the ae86 dominate?

Why race an M3 when you can race a Veyron? Why race at all? In fact what is the point of racing? Why are we here?

Exactly. Why why why why why?

[Sexual Chocolate]

vz-r_dave said:

Why race an M3 when you can race a Veyron? Why race at all? In fact what is the point of racing? Why are we here?

Most threads involving the gt86 usually result in why buy it when you can... You get my drift.

I'll get me coat.

[spoolio]

That video is bloody awesome. Why can't it be like that now, instead of a load of bewinged blobs that all look pretty much the same bar the point jobs?