Toyota 86 race series offering $125K

A generous $125,000 prize pool has been announced for next year's new 'grassroots' Toyota 86 Racing Series.

To be run alongside selected rounds of the 2016 V8 Supercars Championship, the one-make Toyota series will award the winner with a $50,000 cash prize and an 'international VIP experience' said to be worth $20,000.

The second placegetter will score $30,000 while third place will earn $15,000, with flights, accommodation and entry to a round of New Zealand’s Toyota Finance 86 Championship being on offer to a nominated ‘rising star’ driver that finishes outside the top three.

At the same time, organisers have announced an entry fee of $1500 per round, which Toyota Australia executive director of sales and marketing Tony Cramb said reflects his company's desire for the series to unearth new motorsport talent Down Under.

The Australian series is expected to start in May with other rounds scheduled for Sydney Motorsport Park (August), Sandown (September), Bathurst (October) and Sydney Olympic Park (November).

Cramb said the stellar careers of racers like five-times Australian Touring Car champion and six-times Bathurst winner Mark Skaife and two-time Bathurst winner Tony Longhurst had begun with success in a one-make series.

 “An entry fee of just $1500 per round is easily the lowest amount for any mainstream national series, which reflects our desire to ensure the Toyota 86 Racing Series is affordable for anyone with the passion and talent to compete,” said Cramb.

“If there’s another Skaife or Longhurst out there, we’ll find them."

"The Toyota 86 Racing Series is a great way for young amateur drivers to advance their careers, competing against and learning from professional drivers -- all under the gaze of motorsport decision-makers and team owners.

"Drivers will also perform in front of substantial race-day crowds and large TV and internet broadcast audiences, which should assist them in gaining sponsors.

"The Toyota 86 Racing Series is the most cost-effective road to competing in Australia's premier motorsport weekend at Bathurst in October.

"The front-engine, rear-drive 86 is ideally suited to close racing due to its superb handling and expected maximum speeds down Conrod Straight of about 230km/h."

Announced in February as the Toyota 86 Pro-Am, the Toyota 86 Racing Series had attracted more than 300 expressions of interest by September.

Devised by Toyota with long-time partner Neal Bates Motorsport and Neil Crompton’s AirTime Autosport, the series will comprise a maximum of 32 cars in each race, driven mostly by amateurs with guidance from professional racers.

Five cars in each race will be reserved for professionals or other invited Toyota guests, but they will not be eligible for series points or prizes.

Toyota says competition will generally include three 20-minute races -- one on the Saturday and two on the Sunday -- with grids determined by two practice sessions and a qualifying stage.

Draft sporting and technical regulations for the series have been issued by the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS), providing details of control specifications developed by Neal Bates Motorsport.

Focussing on safety, reliability and cost minimisation, they include the engine ECU, tyres, exhaust, brakes, suspension, roll cage and aero kit, while AirTime Autosport will manage the category.

The 86 has notched up more than 15,000 sales since going on sale here in June 2012, making it the nation's top-selling sports car and Australia one of the largest markets for the affordable Japanese coupe.