Unleashing the new Toyota GR Yaris: a unique racing challenge at Aldo Scribante Circuit
Kyalami was the last outing of the current Toyota GR Yaris. For the rest of the season the GR Cup Media Challenge will be in the new more powerful GR Yaris
It's a new car, a new track and a new challenge when the Toyota GR Cup heads into the third round of the National Extreme Festival at the Aldo Scribante Race Circuit in Gqeberha this weekend.
The Toyota GR Cup Media Challenge manual GR Yaris' have been put out to pasture after three seasons and two races in the current season, which means we'll be behind the wheel of the updated and more powerful Toyota GR Yaris.
First view
It will be the first time the new versions will be seen in South Africa because they haven't officially been launched locally. The first batch of six were scooped up by Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa (TGRSA) to make our stripped out racing cars.
Our outgoing track weapons produced 198kW and 360Nm, while the new GR Yaris is now good for 210kW and 400Nm from its 1.6-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine.
Significantly, the six-speed manual gearbox we've become accustomed to has been replaced by a newly developed eight-speed Direct Automatic Transmission (DAT) with upgraded software aimed directly at quick shifting and optimised gear selection.
It's also fitted with paddle shifters and we'll have three practice sessions on Friday to determine which options work best. I have a suspicion I'll settle for the electronic brain because I've read that the auto 'box boasts world class shifting speeds.
It also means that you can keep both hands on the steering wheel, allowing you to focus on braking points, corner entries and exits.
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