Toyota’s new GT-86 CS-R3 rally car will enter its first event in August at the ninth round of this year’s FIA World Rally Championship, the ADAC Rallye Deutschland.
Developed by Toyota Motorsport (TMG), the RWD rally version of the GT-86 marks the company’s return to rallying roots, reminding of the Celica TA64 Twin-cam Turbo of the 1980s.
Following its debut in Germany, the GT86 CS-R3 rally car will be available as a “cost-effective competition model for private customers participating at all levels of the sport,” according to Toyota.
The GT86 CS-R3 will not actually compete in the ADAC Rallye Deutschland, but will be put through its paces as the official “pathfinder” zero car, driven through each stage as a safety test immediately ahead of the field.
The car will be driven by Isolde Holderied, a double women’s world rally champion, who will evaluate the GT86 CS-R3’s performance so that final adjustments can be made to its design prior to homologation to international R3 competition criteria.
During development, TMG says it focused on reducing weight and ensuring safety, reliability and fun. And as the FIA R3 class allows modifications to be made to the two-liter boxer engine, Toyota has increased its output to between 240 and 250 hp thanks to changes to the software and to physical elements such as the cam-lift and compression ratio.
The engine is linked to a sequential shift six-speed transmission and a limited-slip rear differential. The car also features a weight-optimized safety cage, designed to FIA requirements, as well as tailor-made wiring looms, motorsport engine ECUs, tarmac and gravel suspension kits. The first customer cars will be available in kit form during the first quarter of 2015, at a similar price to other R3 cars.
By Dan Mihalascu
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