Category Archives: General

Toyota Australia Launches 86 Pro-Am Series

2015 Toyota 86 Pro-Am development car

2015 Toyota 86 Pro-Am development car

Toyota Australia today announced an affordable, grassroots motorsport series based on the country’s best-selling sports car, the Toyota 86 coupe, to be raced exclusively at V8 Supercars events.

The series, to start next year, will be run as a pro-am with up to five selected professional drivers who will mentor and compete against a larger field of amateur drivers who will qualify to get onto the starting grid.

The Toyota 86 Pro-Am race series, under the official banner of Toyota Racing Australia, will be staged at selected V8 Supercars events and will be sanctioned by the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport.

The 86 race cars will be based on the GT manual with key specifications controlled to ensure their suitability and reliability while keeping costs as low as possible.

Neal Bates Motorsport, owned by the four-time Australian rally champion, has developed and tested a race package that includes suspension, brakes, extractors and exhaust, ECU, oil cooler, rims and tyres as well as mandatory safety gear.

Toyota Australia executive director sales and marketing Tony Cramb said the company was committed to supporting enthusiast 86 owners in making the transition to circuit racing.

“The 86 sports car has brought to life Toyota’s brand promise as a company whose people love cars and are building exciting vehicles for customers,” Cramb said.

“The dynamic abilities and fun-to-drive characteristics of the 86 provide a credible platform for motorsport – and many owners already compete regularly in tarmac rallies, lap dashes and other events,” he said.

“The Toyota 86 Pro-Am series will present genuine, dynamic and entertaining racing to a broad audience, including big crowds at each round and a large audience on free-to-air and pay TV.

“Fundamental to the concept is that it is a grassroots motorsport series that is affordable for anyone who has both the passion and the talent to compete in a national series.”

The 86 has become a cult hero since being launched in mid-2012 with Australians having bought more than 13,000 cars – the third-highest total in the world.

Cramb said Toyota has a proud history in motorsport around the world, using its participation to produce ever-better cars and encourage even more car enthusiasts. Toyota’s 86 one-make series in Australia will be similar to series run in Japan, Germany and New Zealand.

Toyota is the manufacturers’ and drivers’ titleholder in the World Endurance Championship and has competed successfully in the US-based NASCAR, Dakar Rally, Super Formula and Super GT categories in Japan and at iconic races such as the Nürburgring 24-hour endurance race.

“All these motorsport activities involve testing the speed and durability of our vehicles, which helps us enhance the technology, innovation and excitement of our road cars,” Cramb said.

“Toyota is committed to continuing to bring energy and enjoyment to motoring enthusiasts around the world – from the highest motorsports categories through to grass-roots activities… from races to rallies to customer events,” he said.

V8 Supercars CEO James Warburton said the Toyota 86 Pro-Am series was a welcome addition to the sport which offers its world-class racing categories the largest stage in Australasia and a significant global audience.

“This is a fantastic announcement and we congratulate Toyota for making this commitment to motorsport in Australia,” Warburton said.

“It is indeed an honour that Toyota, the long-term market leader in Australia, sees the power in the V8 Supercars Series and for us to join the ranks of motorsport superpowers globally with whom Toyota has an association.

“And what better time to make that announcement than at the Adelaide event, a huge motorsport weekend which showcases a raft of categories from not only Australia but around the world.”

Toyota 86 chief engineer Tetsuya Tada said he was honoured to be named patron of the series, especially because the global success of the Toyota 86 owes so much to Australia.

Tada said he was impressed – and humbled – by the overwhelming passion and enthusiasm for the 86 among Australian owners.

“My dream is that one day we can have a World 86 Challenge with the best drivers from Japan, Europe and other markets – and the champion Toyota 86 driver from Australia,” he said.


Initial D Fifth Stage Episode 1 English Subs

Out now thanks to SAGE Fansubs:

“Hey hey hey it’s Initial D, finally. The early airing caught me off my guard.

Yes, we know the raw is shit. It’s the best one we could find.

The problem is, next week we might not even be able to find any raw. It starts airing on Animax PPV, and NOBODY gets that channel.

If you can hook us up with raws, let me know. Otherwise the rest won’t get subbed until the Blurays come out.”

Let’s hope not! I wonder if Japanese animation companies will ever release Japanese Blu Rays with english subs. I know I’d buy them!


Initial D Fifth Stage

Initial D Fifth Stage was officially confirmed on August 6th, 2012 by Perfect Choice TV. Animax just aired episode 1 of Fifth Stage on Sunday, 8:00pm November 4th, 2012 (UTC+09:00) as a preview.

The official air date for Fifth Stage Episode 1 – 2 is confirmed to be on Friday 4:00am November 9th, 2012 (UTC+09:00) (second Friday of the month). There will be two new episodes every month.

The theme song “Raise Up” will be by M.O.V.E as usual with the ending theme “Flyleaf” by J-Rock band CLUTCHO .

The episodes will be aired on Animax’s PPV program for 840 Yen each viewing (two episodes). The DVDs will be released some time after the broadcast ends.

Fifth Stage Airdate Schedule: (Subject to change with notifications)

Episode 1 – 2: Friday 4:00am November 9th, 2012 (UTC+09:00)
Episode 3 – 4: Friday 4:00am December 14th, 2012 (UTC+09:00)
Episode 5 – 6: Friday 4:00am January 11th, 2013 (UTC+09:00)

UPDATE: Opening Credits 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhnnpGa7atU

Closing Credits (“Flyleaf” – CLUTCHO)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lR5FsoRkWQ

Official sources / affiliated websites:

– https://www.perfectchoice-pr.com/initial-d/
– https://www.animax.co.jp/special/initial-d/
– https://natalie.mu/comic/news/73769
– https://electropica.com
– https://ameblo.jp/blog-move/
– https://news.mynavi.jp/news/2012/08/06/079/index.html
– https://www.musicman-net.com/artist/19175.html


Initial D: Fifth Stage!

That’s right, our favoure panda Trueno and it’s aloof driver return for the fifth installment of the series that truly made the AE86 infamous.

Japanese readers can get more information on when to watch live here.

For the rest of us, we will have to wait for fansubs after November 9 to get our Project D fix!


HR @ Fuji 86 Style 2012!

Excited to announce HR will be attending the “Fuji 86 Style” event on August 5th and private 8/6 drift event the following day!

We will be bringing you updates through the day as well as a full report Sunday night so stay tuned to the facebook feed and the blog!

Check it out! – https://www.fsw.tv/freepage/620/


Toyota 86 ZN6 on the Nurburgring

Germany’s AUTOZEITUNG take a stock ZN6 Toyota 86 to the ‘Ring to do a lap of ‘the green hell’.


Apple Isle Harvest

Nestled away down south on the island state of Tasmania here in Australia, there is a thriving community of RWD Toyota enthusiasts, one member of which is currently building this fine example. Keep your eyes out very soon for the unveiling of what will be one of Australia’s premier AE86 builds!


MAJORFORCE

Nuff Said!


Build Thread? Hibino’s 2012 D1 86

Droo-P + AVO Japan (and Australia) + Toyota = One crazy drift machine. With a custom EJ25 turbo motor going in to replace the 4U-GSE / FA20 standard boxer the 86 comes with, Hibino will be more than ready to go head to head with Taniguchi in the HKS offering next month in Odaiba!

Dino from SPEEDHUNTERS was lucky enough to be invited to snap some pics of the build of Hibino’s rig, so check out part one and part two now!


What’s Faster: Drift or Grip

The Run Free Levin 2-door piloted by Yamashita gives us a general idea, all while looking cool as hell!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kg5gtrXch7w