Cologna, Germany,
23
January
2015
|
04:00
Europe/Amsterdam

GT86 CS-R3 nears competitive debut

TOYOTA Motorsport GmbH is pleased to confirm the final details of the rear-wheel-drive GT86 CS-R3 rally car, which will make its competitive debut this year.

The CS-R3 prototype was launched last August and since then has completed an extensive test programme to optimise design and define the final specification of the kit which will be delivered to private competitors and teams.

Detailed development has generated improved performance on both gravel and tarmac, while reliability and durability have been prioritised in order to deliver a car which allows cost-effective competition throughout the season and beyond.

The CS-R3 has already proved immensely popular thanks to its rear-wheel drive powertrain, with 1,998cc, 238hp boxer engine and six-speed sequential transmission which combine to produce a spectacular driving experience.

The first cars will be delivered to customers in May, later than originally forecast to allow improvements highlighted during testing to be implemented. As a consequence TMG has extended its introductory discount. The CS-R3 kit, in either tarmac or gravel specification, costs &euro79,000 (excluding VAT) for orders made before 24 April 2015, representing a &euro5,000 discount on the standard retail price of &euro84,000 (excluding VAT).

The CS-R3 kit includes GT86 body shell, powertrain and all mechanical components required to build the car. Full details of the CS-R3 specification and kit contents can be found on www.toyota-motorsport.com/motorsport.

Homologation to FIA R3 regulations will be certified at the beginning of July, after which all CS-R3 cars will be eligible for national and international rallies, up to and including the World Rally Championship.

Fans will be able to see up to 10 CS-R3 cars in competition for the first time at the Rally Niedersachsen near Hanover on 4 July, the first round of the new HJS TMG CS-R3 Trophy.

The first competitors have already signed up to the Trophy, which offers over &euro5,000 of prize money for each of the seven rounds plus other benefits, and will run for at least the next three seasons.

Nico Ehlert, TMG Principal Engineer Customer Motorsport: "This is a significant milestone in the GT86 CS-R3 story which brings us one step closer to the car's competitive debut. We have put a huge amount of effort into our testing and development programme in order to deliver a fast, reliable and spectacular car for drivers and fans alike. As always, there are a number of challenges with a new-car development in this case we had quite some work to adjust our rear-wheel-drive car to regulations which were written with front-wheel cars in mind. It is extremely important to TMG that our cars live up to our customers' high expectation so we have taken a little more time than originally predicted to complete the homologation process. This means we now have a car which, I believe, will exceed the expectations of our customers and keep the fans entertained."

GT86 CS-R3 Technical Specifications:

Price

&euro79,000 (excluding VAT) for orders before April 24 2015

&euro84,000 (excluding VAT) standard price

Engine: 

Type 

FA20

Layout

Boxer, flat four

Displacement

1998 cc

Max. power

238hp

Max. torque

230Nm @ 6,800rpm

Exhaust

HJS racing exhaust and manifold

Fuel cell

FT3 safety cell

Transmission: 

Type

Rear wheel drive

Gearbox

Drenth six-speed sequential

Differential

Limited slip, several ramp setting options available

Final drive

Short final drive, several options available

Clutch

Racing clutch with lightweight flywheel

Steering

Hydraulic power steering with short ratio

Chassis: 

Bodywork

Steel monocoque bodyshell with roof ventilation

Roll cage

Homologated R3 safety cage

Length

4240 mm

Width

1775 mm

Wheelbase

2570 mm

Weight

1080 kg by regulation

Suspension

Front: MacPherson type

Rear: Multi-link

Shocks

Gravel: Reiger, adjustable three-way

Tarmac: Reiger, adjustable three-way

Stabilizer

Several options

Rims

Gravel: OZ 6" x 15"

Tarmac: OZ 7" x 17"

Brakes

Front Gravel: 300mm x 30mm

Tarmac: 330mm x 30mm

Rear Gravel: 295mm x 10mm

Tarmac: 295mm x 10mm

Caliper

Front: Alcon, four-piston brake caliper

Rear: Alcon, two-piston brake caliper

Copyright-free, high resolution images of the CS-R3 in action are available for media use on www.toyota-motorsport-photos.com.

You can follow TMG, including progress of the GT86 CS-R3 rally car, on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ToyotaMotorsport) or Twitter (@TMGOfficial) as well as our website, http://www.toyota-motorsport.com/motorsport.

TMG media contact: Alastair Moffitt, Marketing & Communications Manager: alastair.moffitt@toyota-motorsport.com

HJS TMG CS-R3 Trophy contact: Klaus Osterhaus: klaus.osterhaus@hjs.com / www.hjs-motorsport.de

About TOYOTA Motorsport GmbH:

TOYOTA Motorsport GmbH (TMG) has been based in Cologne, Germany since 1979 and built its reputation in the World Rally Championship, winning four drivers' and three manufacturers' titles during two decades of competition. TMG was also the home of TOYOTA's works Le Mans 24 Hours (1998-1999) and Formula 1 (2002-2009) teams and a tuning and sports conversion subsidiary (established in 1994). TMG has competed in the FIA World Endurance Championship since 2012, winning the drivers' and manufacturers' World Championship in 2014 with a hybrid-powered prototype. Since 2009, TMG is a leading engineering services supplier, offering its cutting-edge development facilities and know-how to a range of industries. In recent years TMG has developed a thriving customer motorsport business, selling cost-efficient but high-performance cars to private participants. The TMG CS-V3 race car has won its class in the Nürburgring 24 Hours for three consecutive years while it also forms the basis of the expanding TMG GT86 Cup within the popular VLN series. In rally, the TMG GT86 CS-R3 rally car was launched in summer 2014 and will compete for the first time in the hands of customers in 2015. Additionally, TMG is also a pioneer in electric vehicle development and is the current holder of the electric lap record at the Nürburgring Nordschleife.

www.toyota-motorsport.com/motorsport / www.facebook.com/toyotamotorsport / @TMGOfficial