Gazoo Racing, Toyota's racing division, seems relentless. It not only focuses the Japanese brand's efforts on car competition, whether in the WRC or WEC, it is, increasingly, the right adrenaline injection for Toyota models.
The Yaris GRMN was a revelation, and they are already preparing a hybrid supercar based on the TS050 in competition, which emerged victorious in the last 24 Hours of Le Mans… and even took time to create a unique Toyota Century GRMN for the enjoyment of President Akio Toyoda.
But it won't stop there. We will see Gazoo Racing “interfere” with the Toyota range on several levels. At the top, the most special and radical GRMN, in the middle the sports versions GR, and at the bottom the GR Sport, which should be equivalent to a line of equipment with a sporty appearance, as already happens in several brands.
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In Europe, the exposure to Gazoo Racing has only been made, so far, with the limited Yaris GRMN, a scenario that should change soon with the arrival of the first GR versions on the European market. And the first in line to receive the appropriate GR version is the Toyota GT86 , which should be followed by a more “civilized” Yaris GR.
It was through Toyota Spain's Twitter account that we were able to access a teaser video of the new proposal, with a clear reference, in the description, that it is a GT86 by Gazoo Racing.
All this question of the passion for speed. #GT86 by TOYOTA GAZOO Racing. pic.twitter.com/LYc5OqZo9r
— Toyota España (@Toyota_Esp) 24 September 2018
What to expect from the Toyota GT86 GR?
It's the million-euro question. The GT86's recognized dynamic excellence has always called for more engine, which is to say, more horsepower for greater performance.
Is this where the GT86 officially receives more "vitamin"? As a GR, we know that the development will not be as extreme as that carried out for the little Yaris GRMN, but speculating, even by the presence of the “passion for speed” and running horses that we see in the video, expectations rise on what expect from the GT86 GR.
Tetsuya Tada, responsible for developing both the GT86 and the new Supra, has already stated that the coupé won't carry any turbos in this generation, so there aren't many chances — either extract more horsepower from the current block (as we saw in the Mazda MX-5) or the engine grows in capacity.
The film lets you see small glimpses of the future machine, hoping for a different look, with the addition of aerodynamic elements and new wheels, and the chassis will certainly receive the attention of the lords of Gazoo Racing — only the mechanical arguments are missing.