BRC RETURN FOR TOYOTA

Photos: Jakob Ebrey, Pro-rally Photography, @World

The Toyota name will return to the British Rally Championship for the first time since the season opener in Mid Wales when Will Corry contests the Ulster Rally later this month in a GT86 CS-R3.

Northern Irishman Corry regularly competes in targas and historic racing events in an MG but is known in rallying circles for his Rally America exploits in a Group N-spec Subaru Impreza. “It’s a very good opportunity, it’s such a lovely thing to drive,” said Corry, who sampled the GT86 CS-R3 at Cholmondeley Pageant of Power and the Goodwood Festival of Speed earlier this year.

Co-driver Brynmor Pierce works with car builder TMG and Rally Prep, which looks after the car in the UK. He believes getting Corry in the car is a coup for all involved.

Pierce said: “It will give everybody a boost really to see what it can do on an asphalt event. Will has experience in the Rally America Championship and he is a good driver.”

Corry is hoping an outing on the Ulster will lead to a further run on Rally Isle of Man, which closes the 2016 British championship season in midSeptember. A full campaign in the series in 2017 is also a target depending on budget.

The Toyota Corry will use on the Ulster Rally had been earmarked for Robert Woodside for the Donegal Rally in June but the deal fell through due to his business commitments.

Journalist Chris Harris and Pierce competed on the Mid Wales back in March in what was the car’s competitive international debut. They finished in 30th overall after the car suffered battery problems.

The Toyota GT86 is the only homologated rear-wheel-drive R3 car.

MN understands that a number of drivers are in talks over using the Toyota for the rest of 2016 and for the 2017 season.