A few weeks ago, word came out of the Goodwood Festival of Speed that Toyota->ke88 was considering setting up a one-make race car series for the GT 86->ke4085.

What it probably didn't know was that the car already has one, or at least, is set to have one.

Over in New Zealand, the Toyota TR 86, a racecar->ke148 built using the online-only 86 RC model as its basis, was first introduced to the public at last weekend's CRC Speedshow in Auckland.

More than just being a show car, the TR 86 is actually a turn-key competition race car that was designed and developed for use in a variety of racing competitions, including its on one-make racing series in New Zealand as granted by MotorSport New Zealand, the country's FIA-appointed national sanctioning body.

As for the TR 86 itself, the car was built with the idea of using it as a tried-and-true race car. That entailed stripping it of all its amenities and fitting the full breadth of racing equipment, including: Sparco competition seats and race harnesses; an FIA-approved roll cage installed by Neil Allport Motorsports; racing brake rotors and calipers; and a set of 18-inch Speedline alloy wheels.

It'll also use Motec’s new C125 color data screen and logger, a data system that provides access to a wide range of information about the car’s performance in any given practice, qualifying or race session.

Similarly, work was also done on the car's engine using the standard Toyota management system with its proprietary software package. The racecar's sump was also strengthened to ensure that no oil spills occur and it doesn't surge under high cornering forces. No specific performance numbers were given but using the 86 Griffon Concept as a peg, we expect the TR 86 to have close to 300 horsepower under its hood, a number that is more than enough, considering that the TR 86, even with a full fuel load, only weighs 1,195 kg (2,634 pounds).

Click past the jump to read about the TR 86's one-make racing series in New Zealand

2013 Toyota TR 86

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2013 Toyota TR 86
  • Engine/Motor: inline-4
  • Horsepower: 300
  • Torque: 200
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array

TR 86 Series

The one-make racing series for the Toyota TR 86 is on track to have its inaugural race at the all-new Highlands Motorsport Park in Cromwell, New Zealand this coming November. From there, succeeding race dates and venues that will make up the season will include:

-November 9-10, 2013; Highlands Motorsport Park, Cromwell

-November 30 - December 1; Pukekohe Park, Auckland

-February 1-2 2014; Hampton Downs, Waikato

-February 8-9 2014; Manfeild, Feilding (New Zealand Grand Prix weekend)

-March 8-9 2014; Taupo Motorsport Park, Taupo

-May 3-4 2014; Hampton Downs, Auckland

Though not yet confirmed, a seventh is likely to be included, which will be part of thesix hour endurance race at Pukekohe on May 17-18, 2014.