Toyota
LONDON, England - Toyota’s new GT86 CS-R3 rally car will make its debut at the 2014 Germany Rally, Round 9 of the 2014 World Rally championship season.
Developed by Toyota Motorsport, the competition version of the automaker’s popular coupe marks a return to Toyota’s rallying roots with rear-wheel drive performance reminiscent of its Celica TA64 Twin-cam Turbo during the 1980's.
Although the prototype CS-R3 will be used at the 2014 German Rally, the production version will be available to order by private customers. The CS-R3 will not compete in the event but will be put through its paces as the official “pathfinder” zero car ahead of competitors.
DRIVEN BY FEMALE CHAMP
Isolde Holderied, a twice-women’s World Rally champion, will be driving the CS-R3 to evaluate its performance.
The FIA R3 class allows modifications to be made to its two-litre boxer engine; changes to the software and to physical elements such as cam lift and compression ratio are expected to increase the unit’s output to 178kW or 186kW.
The engine is mated to a sequential shift six-speed transmission and a limited-slip rear differential. It’s equipped with a weight-optimised safety cage designed to International Automobile Federation requirements.
The 2014 Germany Rally will cover 273km over 18 stages from August 21-24.
GALLERY: 2014 Toyota GT86 CS-R3
The first customer cars will be available in kit form early in 2015, their price expected to be comparable with other R3-spec cars. Figures will be announced after confirmation of final specifications.
TMG principal engineer Nico Ehlert said: “It’s important to say that the GT86 CS-R3 which Isolde will drive is not the finished article; we need the data from the German rally to finalise our development programme.
“It does represent a significant step in the GT86 CS-R3 story and gives a clear indication to our future customers that this project is progressing quickly.
“The fact we are testing our prototype on a very public stage, the World Rally championship, shows what confidence we have in this project. Interest in this car has already exceeded our expectations and we are looking forward to feedback from customers and fans after the rally.”
Click here for specifications
Developed by Toyota Motorsport, the competition version of the automaker’s popular coupe marks a return to Toyota’s rallying roots with rear-wheel drive performance reminiscent of its Celica TA64 Twin-cam Turbo during the 1980's.
Although the prototype CS-R3 will be used at the 2014 German Rally, the production version will be available to order by private customers. The CS-R3 will not compete in the event but will be put through its paces as the official “pathfinder” zero car ahead of competitors.
DRIVEN BY FEMALE CHAMP
Isolde Holderied, a twice-women’s World Rally champion, will be driving the CS-R3 to evaluate its performance.
The FIA R3 class allows modifications to be made to its two-litre boxer engine; changes to the software and to physical elements such as cam lift and compression ratio are expected to increase the unit’s output to 178kW or 186kW.
The engine is mated to a sequential shift six-speed transmission and a limited-slip rear differential. It’s equipped with a weight-optimised safety cage designed to International Automobile Federation requirements.
The 2014 Germany Rally will cover 273km over 18 stages from August 21-24.
GALLERY: 2014 Toyota GT86 CS-R3
The first customer cars will be available in kit form early in 2015, their price expected to be comparable with other R3-spec cars. Figures will be announced after confirmation of final specifications.
TMG principal engineer Nico Ehlert said: “It’s important to say that the GT86 CS-R3 which Isolde will drive is not the finished article; we need the data from the German rally to finalise our development programme.
“It does represent a significant step in the GT86 CS-R3 story and gives a clear indication to our future customers that this project is progressing quickly.
“The fact we are testing our prototype on a very public stage, the World Rally championship, shows what confidence we have in this project. Interest in this car has already exceeded our expectations and we are looking forward to feedback from customers and fans after the rally.”
Click here for specifications