Toyota’s One Make 86 Racing Car Championship Begins

Toyota’s One Make 86 Racing Car Championship Begins

-       New Zealand’s newest race series begins at newest race track

-       Close racing expected as 86 coupe goes racing

-       Fogg leads impressive entry list

A touring car driver with an impressive racing career is among entries in New Zealand’s newest championship which begins this weekend (November 8-10).

Angus Fogg is a multiple New Zealand touring car title holder and has extensive one-make racing experience. His competition will include one-make series exponents and emerging drivers with touring car and single-seater experience .

The new Toyota Finance 86 Championship hits the track as part of the first official race meeting at New Zealand’s newest and most spectacular race circuit, Highlands Motorsport Park in Cromwell. The seven-round televised championship uses the TR 86, a racing version of Toyota’s acclaimed 86 sports coupe.

Championship drivers will compete in three races over the course of the weekend, with practice and qualifying on Friday, eight-lap races on Saturday morning and afternoon and a final 12-lap race on Sunday morning.

Championship entries include Angus Fogg and Chris Lewis, Jamie McNee, Matt Gibson, Callum Quin, Tom Alexander, Ash Blewett, father and son team Bill and Matthew Williams and Tony Houston.

Series co-ordinator Sam MacNeill says when the cars take to the circuit for the first time in competition this weekend it will signify another milestone achieved in Toyota Racing and Toyota New Zealand’s motorsport history.

“To have the inaugural round of the Toyota Finance 86 Championship at New Zealand’s newest race circuit is really exciting. The Highlands 101 event looks spectacular and I know the drivers are eager to get on track,” he said.

Toyota has confirmed the series carries a prize fund of $20,000 to be shared between the overall winner of the championship, category champions and race winners. With both the circuit and the championship new in New Zealand motorsport, the drivers will also have the opportunity of establishing a new race lap record for the category.

Only TR 86 cars built in Auckland by Toyota are eligible to race the series. The TR 86 specification includes an FIA-approved multi-point competition roll cage, adjustable competition suspension, racing brake rotors and calipers and 18-inch Speedline alloy wheels. The cockpit features competition seats, racing harnesses and steering wheel, with data provided to the driver by a Motec colour screen digital dash.

The TR 86 championship has three races over the course of the Highlands 101 weekend, with practice and qualifying on Friday, a pair of eight-lap races on Saturday morning and afternoon and a final 12-lap race on Sunday morning.

ENDS

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