This illustration looks like it could be a big, tough racer but in reality its very small, 992 lbs small. Under the hood is a twin cam 1.2L Yamaha motor pushing out 122hp at 11,500 rpm and it’ll hit 62 mph in 4.5 seconds and top out at 142 mph.

This rendering is Toyota’s entry in the Aussie Racing Cars Super Series. It’s based off what is pretty much the Camry but the like NASCAR, what you see in this racer is only a shell. Toyota’s participation is important to Australian racing because this TRD car is the first factory backed car in the series.

Press Blastoff
TOYOTA JOINS AUSSIE RACING CARS SUPER SERIES

Toyota Australia has put an end to long-running media speculation by announcing it will enter the Aussie Racing Cars Super Series with the TRD Aurion, making it the first manufacturer to directly support one of Australia’s most exciting racing categories.

Using a scaled-down body shell of the new TRD Aurion performance sedan, Toyota intends to have at least four of the mini racers competing in the latter half of the 2008 season.

The series is a support category for the V8 Supercar Championship and races at some of Australia’s biggest events, including the Australian Formula One Grand Prix and at Indy on the Gold Coast.

Aussie Racing Cars director Phil Ward said Toyota’s involvement was a great boost to the category and hopes it will encourage other manufacturers to enter.

“Toyota’s involvement is a glowing endorsement of the credibility of the category,” Ward said. “It gives the series another level of interest and it will be wonderful having a major manufacturer involved. Gallery: Toyota TRD Aurion Aussie Racing car “The TRD Aurion’s body shell is really more of a caricature than a scaled-down version of the real car. We are in the final stages of producing the initial test moulds now so the finished product will be on the track later this year.”

Every car in the field runs a spec mechanical package and chassis that is fitted with moulded body shells representing the relevant make and model of the car. The cars are powered by a 1.2-litre, twin-cam, four-valve Yamaha engine, producing 91kW and 11,5000rpm.

They weigh 450kg and have a top speed of 230km/h and accelerate from 0-100km/h in 4.5 seconds.

Toyota motorsport manager Todd Connolly said he was pleased Toyota could assist another feeder category in Australian motorsport.

“Toyota is really pleased to join such a fun, popular and exciting series as Aussie Racing Cars,” Connolly said.

“It is a great grass-roots category for young drivers to showcase their talent and for
experienced campaigners to race competitively at a minimal cost. Phil Ward must be congratulated on how well the series has developed since its launch in 2001.”

Current series star Adam Gowans will step into one of the TRD Aurion Aussie Racing Cars, while another will feature a series of guest drivers, including rally champions Simon Evans and Neal Bates.

Although the series has been based around Ford and Holden-derived cars, Ward said he does not see the category as a red versus blue battle and hopes Toyota’s involvement will encourage other manufacturers to get involved.