Toyota Motorsport GmbH (TMG) has announced the Toyota Gazoo Racing Trophy, an all-new competition open specifically to GT86 race and rally car owners across Europe in 2018.
Open exclusively to GT86 vehicles produced by TMG; the CS-V3 and CS-Cup race cars plus the CS-R3 rally car, the new competition has been designed for ‘maximum flexibility’, with cars eligible for entry in one or more series, each earning points toward the Trophy based on their results, the size of the grid and the level of competition.
With no specific technical regulations for the Trophy and no entry fee, TMG states that GT86 owners have been ‘offered a great opportunity to compete for a significant prize fund for no additional cost’.
The final Trophy standings will be determined by the best 10 registered results from each competitor in 2018. The winning driver will earn €35,000 (US$42,883) plus a Toyota C-HR road car, while second place will be rewarded with €25,000 (US$30,631) and third takes home €20,000 (US$24,505). Winners will be celebrated at an end-of-season awards ceremony.
“The Toyota Gazoo Racing Trophy is an exciting project which brings together a large number of competitors from different disciplines to compete for the title,” explained Emanuele Battisti, TMG’s Customer Motorsport Project Leader. “We have worked hard to create a Trophy which brings added value to our GT86 customers and reflects the values ofToyota Gazoo Racing. Combining race and rally cars in the same competition is a very interesting aspect and we believe this will create excitement for participants and fans. The Trophy has great potential and I believe we are at the start of a new era for customer motorsport with Toyota in Europe.”
In creating the new concept, TMG is keen to highlight the ‘significant effort’ invested in generating a points system to give race and rally competitors a fair chance to compete against each other while rewarding those who succeed in tougher competitive environments.
The GT86 race cars will score Trophy points from any championship within Europe for which the car meets local technical regulations. Following five seasons of the GT86 Cup at the Nürburgring, TMG expects plenty of Trophy competitors taking part in the VLN, RCN and 24-hours race, while other events such as the 24H Series Powered by Hankook, the DMV GTC and NES 500 are expected to include Trophy competitors.
Alternatively, rally entrants are eligible to compete in any European-based event, with Trophy points determined by the competitor’s finishing position compared with other R2 and R3 homologated cars. TMG expects to see the GT86 CS-R3 competing in championships such as the Tour European Rally Series, the German Rally Championship and the FIA European Rally Championship as well as in various national championships.
Trophy prizes will be awarded to competitors who participate in a minimum of five events from 1 January 2018 to 30 November 2018. When competitors participate in more than 10 events, their best 10 results will be counted.
The GT86 CS-Cup race car is available in race-ready configuration for €48,900 (€58,191 including 19% German VAT while the GT86 CS-R3 rally car is offered in kit form (including bare chassis, engine and all required mechanical parts) for the price of €84,000 (€99,960 including 19% German VAT).
