ERC-bound GT86 drivers to chase new TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Trophy

Launched by TOYOTA Motorsport GmbH, the competition carries a significant prize package and is open to owners of TMG-produced GT86 models racing or rallying in Europe.

For maximum flexibility, cars can be entered in one or more and earn points for the Trophy based on their results, the size of the grid or entry and the level of competition.

With no specific technical regulations for the Trophy and no entry fee, GT86 owners have been offered a great opportunity to compete for a significant prize fund for no additional cost, according to TMG.

The final Trophy standings will be determined by the best 10 registered results from each competitor in 2018. The winning driver will earn €35,000 plus a Toyota C-HR road car, while second place will be rewarded with €25,000 and third takes home €20,000. Winners will be celebrated at an end-of-season awards ceremony.

Emanuele Battisti, TMG’s Customer Motorsport Project Leader: “The TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Trophy is an exciting project which brings together a large number of competitors from different disciplines to compete for the title. We have worked hard to create a Trophy which brings added value to our GT86 customers and reflects the values of TOYOTA GAZOO Racing. Combining race and rally cars in the same competition is a very interesting aspect and we believe this will create excitement for participants and fans. The Trophy has great potential and I believe we are at the start of a new era for customer motorsport with Toyota in Europe.”

The length of a race or rally and number of competitors taking part has a significant effect on the number of Trophy points available. The highest possible score per event is 75, which is available for victory in a class of five or more cars in a 24-hour race or rally with 200 kilometres or more of special stages.

Trophy prizes will be awarded to competitors who participate in a minimum of five events from 1 January 2018 to 30 November 2018. When competitors participate in more than 10 events, their best 10 results will be counted. Clickherefor more details.

Luca Bottarelli, Riccardo Canzian and Gianandrea Pisani tackled an ERC event apiece in 2017 in a Toyota GT86 CS-R3 run by Motorsport Italia under the ACI Team Italia banner. Luca Rossetti, the three-time ERC champion drove one of the Japanese machines on Rally Rzeszow and impressed before and accident forced his early exit.