• Championship prize fund of $20,000
• Dates of seven-round series confirmed
• Controlled testing opportunities ensure parity
Toyota New Zealand has confirmed a generous series prize fund for the inaugural Toyota 86 one-make championship.
A prize pool of $20,000 will be awarded, shared between the overall series and category champions as well as individual race winners. The seven round televised series begins at Highlands Motorsport Park in Cromwell on November 8-10 and concludes with a three-hour, two-driver endurance race at Pukekohe on May 17-18 2014.
Drivers will compete in one of three categories: 86 Elite, 86 Amateur and 86 Masters, as well as racing for overall series honours.
The prize structure announced this week will reward the winners of each race as well as the class winners in the Masters and Amateur categories.
The winner of the final event at Pukekohe in May takes home a prize of $1,500 as well as the inaugural 86 Endurance Champions Trophy.
Series co-ordinator Sam MacNeill confirmed that each race winner as well as individual category winners will receive a share of $11,000 in prize money. The overall Toyota 86 Series champion will receive $5,000 while each of the category champions will receive $2,000. Only drivers who have contested all seven rounds of the series will be eligible for the championship prizes.
MacNeill acknowledges the generous support of the principal sponsors of the series Toyota New Zealand, Toyota Financial Services and Motul Oils and says the addition of a prize fund further enhances the series for intending competitors.
The TR 86 race car build programme is well advanced with all 20 cars being assembled at Toyota Racing’s busy Mount Wellington facilities. There are still several cars available for intending racers.
The race cars feature a comprehensive upgrade from the base road registered 86 RC model with the addition of safety features including a full FIA six-point roll cage, head restraint safety seats and harnesses. Other features include the very latest Motec colour dash display unit, competition brake and suspension package,18-inch Speedline race wheels and Michelin tyres.
The cars will be delivered to their new owners at the Manfeild circuit near Feilding on the October 10 at the first official test day for competitors.
“The first round follows a month later allowing drivers the time to become familiar with their cars as well as completing further limited testing which will be restricted to ensure everyone has equal opportunity to get their cars up to speed. Series personnel will be on hand to advise competitors on all of the various technical aspects of their new cars including basic suspension set up options,” said MacNeill.
A testing ban will be in place at both Highlands Motorsport Park and Pukekohe prior to the series running at those circuits for the first time.
Toyota TR 86 2013 – 2014 Race Calendar
Round 1 08 – 10 Nov 2013 Highlands Motorsport Park, Cromwell
Round 2 29 Nov – 01 Dec 2013 Pukekohe Park Raceway, Pukekohe
Round 3 31 Jan – 02 Feb 2014 Hampton Downs
Round 4 07 – 09 Feb 2014 Manfeild, Feilding
Round 5 07 – 09 Mar 2014 Taupo Motorsport Park, Taupo
Round 6 02 – 04 May 2014 Hampton Downs
Round 7 17 – 18 May 2014 Pukekohe Park Raceway, Pukekohe, three hour endurance race
