Toyota GT86 could get its own race series

The Toyota GT86-based TRD Griffon could compete in its own one-make race series if it goes into production.

Although it is considered to be a one-off concept for the moment, a Toyota spokesman told Autocar at the Goodwood Festival of Speed that discussions are ongoing about the car making its motorsport debut in a bespoke race series. That would fit in well with the Griffon’s positioning as an affordable track-day car.

The Griffon, which uses the same 2.0-litre boxer engine as the standard GT86, is reported to develop more than 300bhp, compared to the standard car’s 197bhp.

It uses lightweight carbonfibre body panels and has undergone an extensive weight reduction exercise in the cabin. Larger brakes, better tyres, a strengthened chassis and plenty of aero bodywork comes courtesy of TRD.

Toyota tested the car extensively in Japan, where it has been trying to break a record set by Ferrari for completing an unnamed test circuit in under a minute. For the moment, the Griffon remains one or two seconds off its target. 

While Toyota remains adamant that the car is still only a concept, it says it is "looking into" putting the car into a limited production run. Possible pricing for the Griffon has not yet been revealed.