Conti to support, supply Toyota GR Cup racing series

PLANO, Texas — Toyota Gazoo Racing North America (TGRNA) has tapped Continental Tire North America to provide race tires for its new GR Cup single- make racing series, set to debut in 2023.

The GR Cup will feature identical race-prepped versions of the Toyota GR86, the car maker's the two-door, two-seat, rear-wheel-drive sports car that Toyota Motor Corp. co-developed with Subaru.

For the GT Cup, TGRNA takes the stock GR86 and transforms it into a race-track-prepped sports car at Toyota Racing Development's state-of-the-art facility in Mooresville, N.C.

The transformation includes fitting a Bosch engine management, Borla exhaust, SADEV 6-speed sequential transmission, Alcon brakes, JRI adjustable shocks, OMP safety equipment, roll cage, carbon fiber rear wing, 22-gallon fuel cell, TGRNA-designed MacPherson strut, Stratasys custom bodywork, a TGRNA designed splitter and more.

The GR Cup, sanctioned by SRO America, will run 14 races in 2023 during seven race weekends at well-known tracks throughout the U.S., starting March 30-April 2 at Sonoma Raceway in California. The season will close at Indianapolis Motor Speedway Oct. 6-8.

Continental, listed as founding partner of the series, will supply the racing tires, which are built at its Hoosier Race Tire subsidiary in Lakeville, Ind.

The Continental ExtremeContact DR is a racing slick tire that was developed specifically for the GR Cup.

The GR Cup will offer "affordable" competition with $1 million in purse and prizes up for grabs. The season-long champion will earn $50,000.

TGRNA has posted a video of the car being tested.

Conti announced the partnership to its dealers during the company's Gold Program incentive trip to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.