Toyota GAZOO Racing Philippines has officially unveiled the Toyota GR86 Cup Car, a track-ready build developed with Autoplus Sports and featuring parts the team has tested over the past year. The announcement, shared jointly with Toyota Motor Philippines, opens a new entry point into local motorsports and grid racing.
The Performance Spec is built around a comprehensive package of upgrades. MID Racing R10 Evo wheels in 17×8.0 take on wheel and tire duties, wrapped in GT Radial SX2 tires. Braking is handled by a Brembo Racing Pista FF4 brake kit, supported by Autoplus brake ducts for cooling. Suspension comes from Riaction one-way coilovers with an inverted strut setup.
Inside, the cabin has been stripped and fitted for competition. A Recaro RSS-L bucket seat and a Schroth Clubman 2×2 harness hold the driver in place, while a Cusco Safety21 rollcage adds structural protection. A Momo Monte Carlo 350mm steering wheel mounts to a Works Bell short hub, and a Sparco six-pole killswitch and Sabelt fire extinguisher round out the safety equipment. A tow hook is also included.
For the engine bay and drivetrain, the car gets a BRD engine oil cooler, a BRD catback exhaust and a Greddy oil pan baffle, all aimed at keeping the GR86 consistent under sustained track use.
The Performance Spec is not the only way in. A base specification is also available as a more accessible entry point for newcomers. It includes all the safety upgrades found on the Performance Spec without the performance upgrades.
Toyota GAZOO Racing Philippines clarified that the race series will not separate classes by specification. Base and Performance Spec cars will compete against each other, so drivers who want to be competitive from the very first race may want to go straight for the Performance Spec. Those who start with the base car aren’t locked in, though, since they can upgrade to Performance Spec later.
Owners of a manual-transmission Toyota GR86 also have an option. They can contact Autoplus Sports to have their existing car converted into a GR86 Cup Car and enter the series without buying a new unit.
Pricing: The first 30 units will be offered at P2,960,000 for the Base Spec Cup Car and P3,290,000 for the Performance Spec Cup Car. Once those units are sold, the Base Spec is expected to carry a tentative price above P3 million, while the Performance Spec will go above P3.4 million.
Those interested in purchasing a GR86 Cup Car can go to their nearest Toyota GR Performance Dealer or place a reservation through Autoplus Sports.
Track Impressions
We were fortunate enough to get behind the wheel of the GR86 Cup Car in the top Performance spec variant, and suffice it to say, we were very impressed.
Everything is direct and communicative; the response and turn-in are amazing, as expected from the platform. One can have full driver confidence the moment you take that first turn. You can really tell the chassis is a feat of engineering, and its potential ceiling is extremely high.
While the modifications and overall setup amplify the GR86 platform, the car still has much more to give, especially with the choice of GT Radial SX2 tires and Brembo Pista FF4 brakes. The Brembo Pistas are probably one of the top-dog brake choices, so pairing them with the SX2 tires is a bit overkill; while you can go deeper on the brakes, the tires simply cannot keep up. Luckily, Autoplus Sports is well aware of this, and after the first year of the GR86 Cup, the second year will most likely feature a tire upgrade to GT Radial SXR tires to maximize cornering and braking potential even more.
Overall, Autoplus Sports has done a phenomenal job in setting the vehicle up to be track-ready and competitive from the get-go, and we are happy to see the local motorsports scene grow even further.
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