Toyota‘s newest rallying machine, the GT86 CS-R3, will make it’s competitive debut later this year. The rear wheel drive prototype, which was launched last August and since then has completed an extensive test programme, will be shipped to private customers and teams from May.
The GT86 has proved immensely popular with rallying fans and competitors due to it’s rear wheel drive powertrain. 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 €79,000 (excluding VAT) for orders made before 24 April 2015, representing a €5,000 discount on the standard retail price of €84,000 (excluding VAT).
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.
“This is a significant milestone in the GT86 CS-R3 story which brings us one step closer to the car’s competitive debut.” said TMG Principle Engineer Customer Motorsport, Nico Ehlert.
“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.
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 July 4, the first round of the new HJS TMG CS-R3 Trophy. The first competitors have already signed up to the Trophy, which offers over €5,000 of prize money for each of the seven rounds plus other benefits, and will run for at least the next three seasons.
