Conti will supply race tires for the race-prepped Toyota GR86 sports cars used in the GR Cup debuting in 2023.
PLANO, Texas—Toyota Gazoo Racing North America (TGRNA) has tapped Continental Tire North America to provide race tires for its new GR Cup single-make racing series, set to debut in 2023.
The GR Cup will feature identical race-prepped versions of the Toyota GR86, the car maker's the two-door, two-seat, rear-wheel-drive sports car that Toyota Motor Corp. co-developed with Subaru.
For the GT Cup, TGRNA takes the stock GR86 and transforms it into a race-track-prepped sports car at Toyota Racing Development's state-of-the-art facility in Mooresville, N.C.
The transformation includes fitting a Bosch engine management, Borla exhaust, SADEV 6-speed sequential transmission, Alcon brakes, JRI adjustable shocks, OMP safety equipment, roll cage, carbon fiber rear wing, 22-gallon fuel cell, TGRNA-designed MacPherson strut, Stratasys custom bodywork, a TGRNA designed splitter and more.
The GR Cup, sanctioned by SRO America, will run 14 races in 2023 during seven race weekends at well-known tracks throughout the U.S., starting March 30-April 2 at Sonoma Raceway in California. The season will close at Indianapolis Motor Speedway Oct. 6-8.
Continental, listed as founding partner of the series, will supply the racing tires, which are built at its Hoosier Race Tire subsidiary in Lakeville, Ind.
The GR Cup will offer "affordable" competition with $1 million in purse and prizes up for grabs. The season-long champion will earn $50,000.
TGRNA has posted a video of the car being tested.
Conti announced the partnership to its dealers during the company's Gold Program incentive trip to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.
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