Toyo Tires backs new Mk5 production GTI Championship
Toyo Tires has announced that it will be the control tyre supplier for the forthcoming Mk5 BRSCC Production GTI Championship in 2015.
The move follows several successful seasons as control rubber with the Mk2 production GTI championship, which will continue as a stand-alone grid next season. Both championships aim to keep costs low and thrills high, with a tightly governed set of intelligent regulations that allow a little ingenuity, but major on capping costs to put emphasis back onto set-up and driving skill.
The formula is simple; following on from the popular recipe of the Mk2s, both three and five door Mk5 GTI door cars will be eligible, with builders and competitors able to choose between the more traditional charms of the manual box, or the slightly quicker DSG gear-change. Only BWA or AXX Engine coded cars will be allowed to enter and all blocks and internals must be completely standard, right down to the factory K03 turbocharger. Exhaust systems and braking friction materials are completely free however, as are suspension systems, but the latter are limited to being no more than two-way adjustable.
To allow a little tinkering in the workshops, software choice will be free, but boost and power levels will ultimately be capped to ensure that no one car or team has an unfair advantage. Even so, cars that have been built so far have easily achieved around 250bhp – which promises much entertainment out on track.
Toyo will be supplying the much-proven Proxes R888 in 224/45/17 size for all cars, with a 17” rim being the control size across the board.
Championship Co-ordinator Rob Sadler said “We really feel as if we have created the perfect championship here. The cars are cost effective and very competitive. Race entry fees will be set at sensible, affordable levels, and it’s the perfect way to either start your motorsport career, or indeed, step up from a slower car like the Mk2. We already have ten competitor cars in build and with the testing of the first JabbaSport car well underway, I think we have a great season of racing ahead of us.”
Toyo UK’s Technical and Motorsport Director Alan Meaker commented, “We are delighted to be working with Rob and the team for this new Mk5 Championship and we’re amazed what the cars have achieved in testing. As a standalone series, this is a great showcase for the abilities of the Proxes R888, and ultimately I believe, a great feeder for championships like the Milltek VW Racing Cup and other high-level Tin Top series.”
The series will be showcased at on the BRSCC stand at Autosport International 2015, at the NEC in Birmingham between the 8th-11th January.
For more information, visit productiongti.com
For more information on Toyo Tires, visit toyo.co.uk