VIDEO: Tim Schrick Subaru BRZ Test

Here's our pal, Tim Schrick's verdict on the Subaru BRZ... from Turbo Automagazin. Will it drift nicely in his hands... what do you bloody reckon?

NEWS: Toyota GB GT86 Britcar 24-Hour Drivers Announced

Toyota has announced who will be driving in the GT86's racing debut for the Britcar 24 Hours (September 21st-23rd) – and it's an amazing comeback call-up for 61-year-old Chris Hodgetts, the man who won back-to-back touring car championships in the famous AE86 Toyota Corolla GT in the 1980s. Not only that, our very own www.roadmagazine.co.uk race ace, Neil Primrose (Travis drummer) will also be part of the four man driver team, which also includes Chris' son, Stefan Hodgetts and journalist, Richard Meaden.

Our Neil is an experienced historic car racer, and campaigns a Lola 2-litre Lola T212 sportscar and has raced at the historic Le Mans Classic and at the Nurburgring. He says:"I'm chuffed to bits. It's great to get a proper drive like this."
Chris, being the most experienced member of the team (he’s a veteran of six round-the-clock races at Le Mans), will provide a direct link between the new GT86 and the famous Corolla GT, one of the classic Toyota sports cars that inspired its development. He said: "I think the last time I raced a Toyota was the 1988 Spa 24 Hours. We retired eight minutes from the end while leading our class."

He recently dropped into the workshops of GPRM, where the Britcar GT86 is taking shape: "There was the new car and alongside it was a replica of my old AE86 Corolla, all in its old livery. I admit I shed a tear. It’s wonderful to be reunited."
Son Stefan is equally excited at the prospect of racing the new Toyota. He said: "I was four or five when dad was wining the BTCC in his Toyota and I remember it vividly. It’s a great connection to the past for me and a fantastic opportunity. And I think my team-mate is a safe and sensible sort of guy who will have over the GT86 in one piece."
The Britcar 24 Hours will take place at Silverstone over the weekend of September 22nd and 23rd. Find out more at Team Toyota GB or stay tuned here... 

NEWS: Toyota GT86 Scores First Motorsport Victory

Toyota’s exciting new GT86 sport coupe has claimed its first UK motorsport victory – winning the third round of the Toyota Sprint Series at Barkston Heath on Sunday 12 August. Driven and prepared by Adrian Smith of Fensport (http://www.fensport.co.uk) in conjunction with Autocar magazine, the car was competing in the Toyota-sponsored event for the first time and duly won both its class and the event overall. It was also a first win for a rear wheel drive car with a normally aspirated engine since the series began in 2007. Fensport boss, Adrian Smith posted the quickest time of 54.55 seconds around the 0.75-mile Lincolnshire course, six hundredths of a second quicker than the second placed, heavily modified Celica GT-Four ST205 of Iain Gard. Third place went to Autocar’s Steve Sutcliffe who co-drove the GT86 with Smith.
The GT86 used a standard 2.0-litre “boxer” engine and unmodified six-speed gearbox. The only changes made to the road car specification were the suspension, wheels and track tyres.  To save weight the interior was stripped out and fitted with a racing seat.
The GT86 was lined up against a range of standard and modified Toyotas, and its winning time demonstrates the rewards drivers can enjoy from the car’s essential qualities of light weight, agility and strong grip – elements that Toyota made priorities in its development programme.
A great deal of preparation took place very quickly by Smith and his team at Fensport to prepare for the event as the GT86 only went on sale this month in the UK.
Smith said: "Driving the GT86 for the first time on track was an absolute joy, the car has responded so well to our modifications and has proved to be a very capable and extremely well handling package. I am really looking forward to further development of the car and hope to repeat our initial success."
With further development planned for the car, Smith hopes to maintain this winning streak at Croft on 16 September and Snetterton on 20 October.  The Toyota Sprint Series is open to all Toyota vehicles, from standard road-going models to highly modified cars, each competing in their own class against the clock on a series of timed runs. For more details visit www.toyotasprint.com.
This win celebrates the start of GT86 participation in motorsport with Toyota (GB) entering a car in this year’s Britcar 24 hour race at Silverstone from the 21 to the 23 September.  The GT86 is available to buy now from Toyota Centres and is priced from £24,995 on the road.
Find out more about the GT86 racer at: http://www.facebook.com/Fensport & look forward to our road test of the GT86 in www.roadmagazine.co.uk Toyota and Lexus special this Autumn.