WRC: Toyota GT86 to debut in Germany

Toyota's latest rally car will run in public for the first time on next month's Rally Germany, where the GT86 CS-R3 will be used as a "zero car."

For the second time in three years, former Ladies Cup World Rally Championship winner Isolde Holdereid will drive a new Toyota on the Trier stages. In 2012, the German lady gave the Yaris R1 its debut and this time she will do the same with the Cologne-built 250bhp rear-wheel drive R3 car.

"This is exciting news for TMG and, I hope, for rallying in general," said Toyota Motorsport GmbH principal engineer Nico Ehlert. "It's important to say that the GT86 CS-R3 which Isolde will drive is not the finished article; we need the data from Rallye Deutschland to finalise our development program. Therefore, it represents a significant step in the GT86 CS-R3 story and gives a clear indication to our future customers that this project is progressing quickly.

"We are testing our prototype on a very public stage, the FIA World Rally Championship, which shows how confident we are in this project. Interest in this car has already exceeded our expectations and we are looking forward to hearing customer and fan feedback in Trier."

The car is pictured in the livery it will use on Rally Germany, which takes place on Aug. 21-24.

Preparations continue for Toyota's planned return to the series as the Japanese manufacturer is due to conduct an asphalt test with its Yaris WRC next month.