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Tag Archive | "TRD"
WILD COROLLA TAKES ON SUPER GT
The 2009 Super GT series in Japan will continue the tradition of having some of the wildest looking cars in all motorsport. Making its debut at the recent Tokyo Auto Salon was this wild Corolla Axio from top Japanese race preparation house APR. At the presentation held at the Toyota booth, Team manager/chief engineer Hiroto Kaneso explained the reason for picking the popular Japanese road car as their based vehicle. "My team has been using Corolla on the street, and, in spite of having a manual transmission, I often have taken the wheel also. I always thought that the car has everything in a pack: good balance, manoeuvrability, drivability, etc.. From there, I thought 'Would we be able to make a racing car out of it?'" He described the key points of the development as, "Utilise its characteristics and not to spoil them. Only a few people notice it, but the angle of Axio's windshield is ideal for a racing car. The size of the car also fits right in the numeric that I consider ideal. The windshield is about the only thing on the car that may have any resemblance to the original. The car is clothed in a full carbon fibre body with the front engine, front wheel drive configuration replaced by a mid mounted normally aspirated 3.5 litre V6 driving through the rear wheels. All up weight of the beast will be 1100kgs. The car has been designed for the GT300 class which believe it or not is the milder of the two categories. Cars in the GT 500 category include the Nissan GTR, Honda NSX and the Lexus SC430, the 2009 series kicks off at the Okayama International Circuit on March 21-22. The series will also visit Malaysia again with a race at Sepang on June 20 - 21, with airfare to Malaysia now cheaper than ever I'm thinking a visit for that weekend might be a pretty good plan. inpitlane.com will keep you up to date with all the news from Super GT and viewers in Melbourne can get the latest on In Pit Lane on C31 Tuesday nights 9.30 p.m.
Continue reading...TOYOTA KILLS OFF TRD, RALLY PROGRAMME UNDER REVIEW
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Toyota Australia have killed off it's performance line TRD and the local Rally programme could be next. TRD was responsible for the Supercharged Aurion and Hi-Lux designed to take on Holden's HSV and Fords FPV performance brands, but overall the brand failed to capture the publics imagination and sales were disappointing. Toyota Australia senior executive director Dave Buttner said “Toyota made a significant financial commitment to TRD vehicle conversion and clearly understood short-term profitability was unlikely... However, the perspective has changed for business globally and those new rules require tough decisions for the greater good.” Mr Buttner said that with the realities of the financial crisis and the downturn in consumer confidence, companies worldwide have an overriding responsibility to do their utmost to conserve cash. “...and Toyota is doing just that.“
Continue reading...HUMMERS TO RACE AT BATHURST ?
Thursday, October 2, 2008
A class for SUVs including Porsche Cayenne, Ford Territory and even Hummers is the surprise as the class structure and vehicle eligibility list is released by organisers of the Bathurst 12 hour Showroom Enduro. The final list has, according to organisers been prepared following extensive consultation with manufacturers, entrants and the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS) (just what they were drinking at the time is anybody's guess.) To be run at the Mount Panorama, Bathurst on February 20-22, 2009 , the Bathurst 12 Hour Showroom Enduro will feature a similar structure of classes to what was seen in this year’s Event with some minor changes following feedback from the motoring industry and competitors in the 2008 Event.
Continue reading...AMBROSE CONFIRMS TOYOTA NASCAR MOVE
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Marcos Ambrose will end his eight year association with Ford to drive a Toyota in the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup series. The Tasmanian driver will move to the Japanese marque after his team JTG Daugherty Racing announced a new technical alliance with current Sprint Cup operation Michael Waltrip Racing (MWR) and Toyota Racing Development (TRD) for its first full-time Sprint Cup campaign next season. JTG Daugherty Racing, co-owned by Tad and Jodi Geschickter and former NBA All-Star and ESPN broadcaster Brad Daugherty, will enter the #47 Toyota Camry driven by Ambrose and backed by primary sponsors, Kingsford Charcoal, Clorox Laundry and Household Products and Little Debbie’s Snack Cakes in the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
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Thursday, February 19, 2009
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