TOYOTA 86 RACE SERIES ANNOUNCE CALENDAR
Toyota 86 Race Series announces 2020 calendar – Photo: InSyde Media
After completing its fourth season of competition the Toyota 86 Race Series will again contest a five-round calendar in 2020.
By HEATH McALPINE
The popular support category will kick off its fifth series at Winton, where the series debuted back in 2016, before heading to what has been a fixture of the Toyota 86 Racing Series calendar Townsville for its second round.
The category then supports the SuperNight Supercars event at Sydney Motorsport Park, which is followed by the annual trip to Bathurst as part of the 1000 weekend.
Just like in previous years, the streets of Newcastle host the finale where this year Aaron Borg clinched the title by 118-points ahead of Luke King, who clean-swept the round.
The 2020 signals the final season of Toyota’s two-year extension on its initial three-year deal announced in 2018.
The confirmation of the 2020 calendar comes after 23-year-old Lachlan Gibbons will head over to Japan to contest the Toyota 86 race at the Toyota Gazoo racing Festival at Fuji Raceway next month.
Gibbons won the prize after being awarded the Kaizen Award, an honour given to the driver, who embodies the Toyota philosophy of continuous improvement, both on and off the track.
“This really is fantastic and the whole team has put in an enormous effort this year to help me continue to improve my performances,” Gibbons said
“From starting the year at Phillip Island finishing in the mid-field, I have worked hard to improve my results both on and off the track. With a lot of help and guidance from the mentors in the series, I achieved top ten finishes for most of the races since Bathurst, where a third place in race one was my best result for the season.”
Toyota Australia Vice President Sales and Marketing Sean Hanley was pleased to award Gibbons the prize and was confident he will represent Australia well at Fuji.
“This award is not only about improved and consistent performance on the track, it’s awarded to the driver who demonstrates they have the social, communication and commercial skills to succeed in the demanding world of motorsport and in their wider life,” Hanley said.
“Lachlan Gibbons is very worthy winner of the award having shown considerable development as a race driver with an exemplary conduct off the track being gracious, respectful and humble.
“We wish him the best of luck for his race at Fuji next month and can’t think of a better ambassador to represent Toyota GAZOO Racing Australia at a festival that celebrates the rich and successful heritage and global success of Toyota’s ongoing performance in motorsport at all levels.”
Series winner Aaron Borg was awarded $50,000, Luke King as runner up finished with $30,000 and the Publicity Star, while reigning winner Tim Brook took home $15,000 for third.
Jaden Ransley won Best Presented Team and auctioned off his Dunlop tyre prize (valued at $1000). It raised $2800 of which all was donated to the NSW Bushfire Appeal by Ransley.
Best First Year Driver was won by Peter Vodanovich and the Most Unbreakable Performance was awarded to Luke van Herwaarde.
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