The Toyota GR Philippine Cup wrapped up its season last weekend at Clark International Speedway, marking another year of on-grid and city circuit racing. Among this year’s highlights was the Toyota Tamaraw making its racing debut, and Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) has now confirmed another addition to the series for 2027.
During a press conference, TMP president Masando Hashimoto confirmed that the Toyota GR 86, the brand’s 2+2 sports coupe, will join the grid next season. Developed in collaboration with Autoplus and Tuason Racing School, the new race car is intended to bring more drivers into the championship.
We got a closer look at the two versions of the GR 86 prepared for competition, and there are a few differences worth noting.
Two Race Cars, Different Levels of Preparation
The GR 86 One-Make Race (OMR) car will be offered in Core Cup Car and Full Spec configurations. Both will compete in the same class, with the primary differences involving their equipment rather than their engines.
The Core Cup Car is your entry ticket – think of it as the GR 86 with most of its street DNA intact. Owners can slowly bolt on upgrades to meet racing specs, which means you don’t have to empty your wallet all at once just to get on the grid.
The Full Spec version comes with more track-focused hardware, including bigger brakes, coilovers, and dedicated wheels. It also deletes the passenger seat to reduce weight and make the car better suited for competition. Both versions retain the GR 86’s existing engine, so there are no changes to the powertrain. The cars are available with a manual transmission for now, keeping the focus on driver involvement.
Visually, the cars shown to us feature GR-themed liveries, while the more extensively prepared example showcases its racing equipment inside and out. The Full Spec car also gets a more stripped-down cabin, including a Recaro racing seat and harness.
The 2027 Grid
The Toyota GR 86 OMR Core Cup Car is priced at P2,960,000, while the Full Spec version costs P3,290,000. Both are available through Toyota GR dealerships, and TMP says 22 units have already been sold. The initial grid will be limited to just 30 cars, giving interested drivers a relatively small window to secure a place for next season.
Existing GR 86 owners may also get an opportunity to join the series. For now, priority is being given to the first batch, although TMP plans to allow current owners to participate in the future if their cars are modified to meet OMR specifications.
And here’s the kicker: Hashimoto-san has confirmed he will suit up and race next season, bringing serious star power to the grid.
