Recent testing at Hampton Downs Motorsport Park has seen two unofficial racecar-specific records broken around the circuit courtesy of Toyota Gazoo Racing New Zealand.
As we approach the 2023 summer racing season, Toyota was out testing its FT-60 and TR-86 earlier this week with drivers Jacob Douglas and Brock Gilchrist, who set two new records for the cars in the process.
Current USF2000 Series driver Douglas set a new unofficial record for the open-wheeled Toyota FT-60 with a time of 1:29.652 being recorded around the International Circuit layout of Hampton Downs.
The FT-60 is designed to FIA standards, featuring a Tatuus built chassis powered by Toyota’s very own 2-litre turbocharged 8AR-FTS engine generating 200kW, complete with a chassis that weighs 690kg with the driver.
Another record was broken during the test day earlier this week by Toyota 86 Championship driver Gilchrist. Behind the wheel of a TR-86, a race modified version of the Toyota GT86, Gilchrist set an unofficial record time of 1:52.525 around the International layout of Hampton Downs.
Taking to social media after a successful day out on track, Douglas said, “Mega to get back in the car again, as last time I tested with them before I left a year ago, I was still pretty new to car racing.”
“Great to see how this year has helped me improve and what else I have to learn.”
He now heads back to the United States in preparation for the next round of the USF2000 Series which takes place at Portland International Raceway on September 1 to 4.
As for Gilchrist, we next join him at the non-championship round of the Toyota 86 Championship in support of the Supercars event ahead of the 2023 season.
Main image: Toyota Gazoo Racing Facebook
