Agent 86

Given the recent negative spotlight on the Australian automotive industry, the introduction of Toyota’s ‘affordable hero car’, the 86, has been a ray of sunshine for the motoring enthusiast.

For experienced production-car racer Grant Phillips, his passion for the rorty rear-drive coupe was set back in 2009, when the FT 86 Concept was shown at the Tokyo Motor Show.

“My response to seeing it was simple,” explains Phillips. “I have to race one!”

Phillips, who runs Pedders Bendigo -- the ‘number one’ Pedders store nationally for three years running -- has raced well-developed but aging Protons in the Australian Manufacturer’s Championship through 2011 and 2012. For him, the change to an untried rear-wheel drive sports coupe has been troubled, with added pressure to have the car built, let alone tested, in time for the 2013 season.

“Once 86 became available in Australia, we contacted Mike Breen, the manager of Public Relations at Toyota Australia. He was very positive, and agreed to supply the car for an initial three-year term,” he said.

“Toyota also did some research, and concluded that our Pedders 86 is actually the first of its type to race in a national production car championship anywhere in the world,” says Phillips, with a hint of pride.

“Due to the popularity of the car and some other factors, the original delivery date of October 2012 was extended to December. It was actually delivered to us in Christmas week…a great present, but it meant our build program was significantly shortened,” he continues.

With a blank slate from which to work, Phillips and his Pedders Racing team turned to trusted parts suppliers for the build. “The manufacturer’s championship rules are quite limited in terms of the modifications you can do, but we needed to ensure the finished product would take advantage of where there were freedoms,” says Phillips.

Pedders remote-canister coil-over shocks with 60-way adjustment were installed to allow the maximum suspension adaptability, with Whiteline also providing suspension componentry. DBA supplied 5000-series brake rotors to the front with 4000-series for the rear. Although the budget did not stretch to bespoke brake calipers (the 86 is still running on standard calipers) Phillips turned to Project Mu brake pads after hearing good things about their endurance performance. “They’re a club racer specification, so nothing too flash, but they do a better job than any other pad I’ve used.”

Sydney-based MRT Performance -- well known in racing and rallying circles -- was entrusted with the ECU tune, utilising Ecutek software and providing an initial dyno tune. Phillips says: “There’s not much you can improve on these modern direct-injection, naturally-aspirated four-pots; at least within the rules.

“We saw perhaps another five kilowatts on the dyno initially. Once we have finalised our Nameless exhaust system (which is free from the first join back) we will tune the car again and hopefully release a little more output.”

Of course, safety is paramount in racing, with a full roll-cage installed along with the requisite racing seats, harnesses, fire extinguishers, ignition cut-out and safety fuel cell.

Installed in the bootspace, the fuel cell is a stunning piece of engineering which also expands fuel capacity from 50 litres to 59 litres. “Every drop helps,” Phillips laughs. “We are still 11 litres under the class limit, and it’s important we get up there quickly. The Honda Integra Type Rs -- our main competition in Class D -- are currently able to run longer between stops, a vital advantage in endurance racing.”

A larger exhaust system, lightweight OZ Racing wheels sporting Hankook control tyres and a custom Grafico Auto Designo livery add external presence to the 86, while inside the dash and centre displays are surprisingly close to standard. “These are production cars, to me they should look as close to the road car as possible, both inside and out,” Phillips explains.

For the Pedders Racing team, the goal was always to debut the 86 at Bathurst, at the Easter weekend Bathurst Motor Festival. Although not part of the manufacturer’s championship, it appeared the perfect opportunity to shake down the car, while also allowing Phillips and star co-driver Shane Jacobson to achieve a mutual life goal: Racing at Mount Panorama.

“It was an incredible moment, driving up the mountain for the first time…it was difficult to concentrate on the job at hand, which, as it turns out, was to bed in the brakes!” says Phillips, indicating just how tightly the build timeframe was placed.

With a further Winton test session under the belt, the team headed for Phillip Island and the opening round of the Australian Manufacturer’s Championship on 26 May. With regular co-driver Andrew Turpie back at the helm, the 86’s best qualifying time was a 1:54.7583, just over two seconds shy of the pace-setting -- and extremely well developed -- Honda Integra Type R of Mark Eddy.

This gap to the front was maintained through the four-hour race as Phillips and Turpie came to grips with the 86 on the fast, flowing sea-side circuit, but a mechanical issue with the catalytic converter delayed them on-circuit. Eventually, they were able to retrieve the car and re-enter the fray, finally seeing the chequered flag. Unfortunately the earlier delay meant the 86 had failed to complete the required 75 per cent of race distance, classifying the Pedders team as non-finishers.

Testing times
The Pedders Racing Team recently invited motoring.com.au to the Winton circuit, to attend a team test session as part of a Tampered Motorsports track day.

“We’re using today to see if we’ve got to the bottom of our problems with the catalytic converter, and also to fine-tune the setup on both old and new rubber. Fuel burn data will also be recorded, as Phillip Island combined mechanical issues with four seasons of weather -- the beauty of endurance racing in Victoria!” says Phillips.

With Car Controller Damian Martin and crew headed by Mike Ibbott, the test day progressed smoothly, with little needed in the way of suspension changes, although the persistent mis-fire as a result of the converter was still present. An early 1:42.5 second lap on old tyres and full tanks looked good; Phillips did a 1:42.4 best last time around.

Suddenly, I’m thrown a helmet and the opportunity to strap in next to Phillips as a passenger. The tricky six-point harness done up, my focus turns to Winton’s 3.0-kilometre ‘long’ circuit and the fascinating mix of cars we’ve been grouped with. Everything from an old Nissan Bluebird to an AU V8Supercar floods the circuit, and as the 86’s flat-four revs out it’s time to assess its strengths and weaknesses.

Immediately, I notice the flat-change system that the Ecutek system offers, allowing Phillips to keep his foot on full throttle as he changes through the gears. That, and the way the Pedders coil-overs absorb the curb’s ripples with aplomb, ironing them out without the need for Phillips to come off the throttle.

There’s a lot more grip and traction on offer over the standard 86, both from tyres and suspension, while braking is also top-notch. In fact, even two-up on the old rubber the production-spec 86 is harassing tarmac-rally Evo Xs and the V8Supercars through the twistier sections of Winton.

When matched against the pesky Integras, the 86 lacks only straight-line speed. Time and again Phillips waves ‘goodbye’ as we enter Winton’s back straight, the tuned turbo-car we’d just passed breezing back by. “It’s the nature of production car racing,” he explains later. “Each car has its strengths and weaknesses, and that’s our job -- to maximise the package overall.”

Overall, though, a look at the lap-times sees Phillips embarrassing several cars with double the output. A 1:41.3 is over a second ahead of where the team was pre-Winton and, with the promise of more power in time for the second Australian Manufacturer’s Championship round at Sydney Motorsport Park on July 14, Phillips hopes to be nagging the front-runners of Class D. As motoring enthusiasts and lovers of the rear-drive Toyota 86, motoring.com.au will be watching with interest.

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