Toyota 86 Racing Series 2016 (NOT ProAm!)

[GTRMagic]

Toyota 86 Series Is Go

From 2016.. to appear at the V8SC rounds apparently..

[Samwhk]

How exciting. Another 1 make series that the spectators won't be interested in.

[Mixer]

It's good news. It is an affordable and somewhat sporty car, I think people will watch it

[smokin'joe]

Originally Posted by Samwhk

How exciting. Another 1 make series that the spectators won't be interested in.

are these the cars that TNZ built, but no-one wanted to race ??

[Umai Naa]

Yeah what happened there?

[GTRMagic]

I take the Toyota interest as a toe in the water for a larger involvement in the main game with Lexus. The 86 is a good little car.. certainly there are loads of them around (and their BRZ sisters) that have been tuned. It might open a different viewer market, if the series is packaged professionally, and there is some genuine talent in the driver's seats..

[smokin'joe]

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

I take the Toyota interest as a toe in the water for a larger involvement in the main game with Lexus. The 86 is a good little car.. certainly there are loads of them around (and their BRZ sisters) that have been tuned. It might open a different viewer market, if the series is packaged professionally, and there is some genuine talent in the driver's seats..

unsure if true, but..........
alledgedly TNZ had 20+ built, but only found drivers for a handful of them.

unfortunately, due to the behavour of some selfish few, top level circuit series racing is buggered here in NZ, and now that Hayden is in WRC, rallying ain't much better to watch unless something fresh happens on the dirt roads this season.

[Samwhk]

Originally Posted by Mixer

It's good news. It is an affordable and somewhat sporty car, I think people will watch it

Really? A pack of identical, near standard 2ltr cars? Certainly hasn't worked here in NZ.

[fomoco]

Maybe the demographics have changed , by a large percentage , that Au and NZ motorsport , that haven't connected with the new dynamics of youth.

Thirty years ago, we rebuilt , HR , EH Holden's, XW and WY falcons, dropped Celica five and six gear boxes in, add the occasional small block Chev and Henry V8 .

Today must youngsters want a high powered four, turbo , computer chip , and do drifting and sprints.

Maybe the organizers are still relying on a generation that grew up on V8 cars , but as Bob Dylan, sang "well the times are a changing"
for better or worse

[mountainstar]

The GT86 is not a horsepower car, although some tuners have changed that. But it is a car with great handling and really fun to drive on the right track and on twisty roads, especially for the price. It's a Porsche 944 for this era.

From the get go Toyota and Subaru wanted people to race these cars so that's why they are trying to establish series around the world so people can compete with them and to help sell the cars.

[racer69]

I guess it's success will depend on who they are aiming the series at.

Is it being aimed at youngsters trying to get into the sport (ala the old Laser Series or the mid-90s Suzuki GTi Series) and therefore low cost, or are they aiming it at the type of driver who might have abit more coin?

[peckstar]

at least they look like a car that should be racing not like those 121s

[GTRMagic]

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

Toyota 86 Series Is Go

From 2016.. to appear at the V8SC rounds apparently..

Toyota 86 Pro-Am Cup Confirmed

[Mixer]

$100k per season?

[kittle]

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

Toyota 86 Pro-Am Cup Confirmed

Any word if this will be similar to the Paul Pickett days of the Daewoo Series where you turn up and drive and the category preps the cars?

[peckstar]

reckon it might be time for its on thread. not sure this is a 2016 silly season thread (which was intended to be a v8 Supercars thread)

but there seems enough interest to warrant its own

[DAVID PATERSON]

I'm astounded that they put $100K per season and grass roots in the same paragraph. That's getting towards DVS money.

I compete in a 5 or 6 round series in three states for under $20K p.a.

[one five five]

Originally Posted by kittle

Any word if this will be similar to the Paul Pickett days of the Daewoo Series where you turn up and drive and the category preps the cars?

Nothing like the Daewoo Series if they are talking figures of $100,000...

I notice they say they want it to cost less than $100,000 , but that is still a very hefty figure in an alreay saturated category market.

Will this draw new competitors to motorsport or just draw them away from other categories (or will it draw anyone)?

[Terry S]

As this category is going to be added to the V8's weekend what is going to be dropped?

They seem to be saturated already.

Perhaps the Utes?

[one five five]

Originally Posted by Terry S

As this category is going to be added to the V8's weekend what is going to be dropped?

They seem to be saturated already.

Perhaps the Utes?

Australian GT? Unless they start "toeing the line"

[Librules]

Originally Posted by DAVID PATERSON

I'm astounded that they put $100K per season and grass roots in the same paragraph. That's getting towards DVS money.

I compete in a 5 or 6 round series in three states for under $20K p.a.

Not really comparing apples with apples..... if you're still running in Group A/C, that is....

[Backagain]

They'll never find enough hairdressers with that kind of money to fill a grid.

[GTRMagic]

This is a factory-backed series... so it is in their interests to see that it works, that it is heavily promoted, that it achieved its marketing aims...

i.e. not a get-rich-quick scheme, like some others of the past..

[racer69]

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

This is a factory-backed series... so it is in their interests to see that it works, that it is heavily promoted, that it achieved its marketing aims...

Perhaps a few Dealers might be encouraged to enter some cars?

[GHOGH]

I see the toyota corolla was the largest selling 'model' in Australia in 2014. Is toyota involved in any racing in Australia apart from the historic Celica models - Bates in the rally car and the 'production racer?

http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/indu...p-up-used-cars (Over half the cars imported into NZ in recent years have been used Japanese imports)
http://www.caradvice.com.au/328099/2...rs-and-losers/

(There are new models coming of some in the top ten list so I would expect a shuffle in 2015 of the order for Aus)