AutoTrader Goes Racing | Episode 2 - Our first drive of the new race car
We head to the new Toyota Gazoo Racing headquarters at Zwartkops Raceway for the official welcome event. This event introduces us to the key players in the team, the ones behind the scenes and more importantly, we get our first chance behind the wheel.
The official announcement took place at SOMI 2023, but the official welcome to the family takes place at the newly launched Gazoo headquarters where Toyota has transformed the old ZOC building between turns 5 and 6 of Zwartkops into a home base for their operations. This new building features a briefing room, canteen, and lounge area as well as a high-tech workshop for the Junior Academy karts. It's all finished off in the GR corporate colours with striking accents of glass and chrome.
Related: Toyota GR86 (2022) First Drive Review
Aside from the welcome, we were to be briefed on the day's proceedings and then shuffled off for interviews and photo sessions. These images (the ones you see here) form part of the press pack that announces our arrival not only to the media but to the country at large.
After all the formalities, we get our first chance to hop behind the wheel of the 2023 GR86 Cup car and set out on track under the watchful eye of the Toyota Driving Instructors who are on hand to provide us with a few tips to help us get the most out of the car.
I'll be competing against 5 of my fellow motoring scribes including Mark Jones (Citizen Motoring), Denis Droppa (TimesLIVE Media), Setshaba Mashigo (ASAMM), Reuben van Niekerk (Wheels24), and Brendon Staniforth (Maroela Media) over the course of 7 race events across the country over the next few months.
The first race takes place at Zwartkops Raceway in Pretoria on 18 February. More information can be found here: Extreme Festival Round 1
Watch how the day went down here:
