2009 SuperGT GT300 Toyota Corolla Axio apr GT

[EJ25RUN]

Based vehicle: Corolla Axio
Car model: NZE141
Dimensions (L x W): 4410mm~1795mm
Weight: Over 1100kg
Wheelbase: 2600mm
Transmission: HEWLAND 6-speed sequential
Suspension: F/R: Double wishbone
Engine model: 2GR-FSE
Engine type: Water-cooled V6 NA (Longitudinal-mounted)
Displacement: 3500cc
Max power: over 300ps / 6800rpm
Max torque: 39kg-m / 5200rpm
Tire: TBD
Wheel: RAYS F:10.5�~18 / R:11.0�~18

On January 9th, SUPER GT's brand new GT300 class machine for the 2009 season, "COROLLA Axio apr GT," was unveiled at the Tokyo Auto Salon.

The developer of the new machine, apr, has competed in SUPER GT/JGTC with MR-S and MR2 and won driver's title three times in the past. They scored 1 win with MR-S last season. The team with outstanding record chose Corolla Axio as their machine to compete in the '09 season.

At the presentation held at Toyota booth, Team manager/chief engineer Hiroto Kaneso who takes the helm of apr explained the reason for picking a popular road car as their based vehicle. "My team has been using Corolla on the street, and, in spite of having a manual transmission, I often have taken the wheel also. I always thought that the car has everything in a pack: good balance, maneuverability, drivability, etc. From there, I thought 'Would we be able to make a racing car out of it?'"

He described the key points of the development as, "Utilize its characteristics and not to spoil them. Only a few people notice it, but the angle of Axio's windshield is ideal for a racing car. The size of the car also fits right in the numeric that I consider ideal. MR-S isn't bad either, but it's a little bit peaky. Contrastingly, Axio is easy to handle. If we can carry over the easiness to the racing machine, it would lessen the effort (for drivers)." He revealed the unexpectedly high potential of the car.

[Glides]

Now why someone would go a purposefully rice out a good JDM car like the new Corolla is beyond me.

[blacknightteg]

holy fuckin crazy shit looking corolla. that thing is insane looking!

[slow_hatch]

So this is still FWD?? I know nothing about this form of racing. Either way it is badass

[EJ25RUN]

So this is still FWD?? I know nothing about this form of racing. Either way it is badass

It is not fwd. It would have no chance of being competitive that way.

Notice the roof scoop. That V6 sits in the middle of the car and is rwd.

Notice how the rear body work comes off for engine service.


SuperGT is Japanese Nascar in a way. The cars "look" like a car you can buy but it really isn't. They are all silhouettes with varying engines and engine placements. This along with the aero, makes them the fastest GT cars in the world.

My favorite car is the Cusco Impreza STi which actually uses AWD since it was allowed back in to the sport in 2006. It is a system based on the symetrical AWD found in the street STi. This makes the STi the closest to stock GT300 race car. It finally won a race in 2008 after earning almost every pole position.

[speedminded]

My favorite car is the Cusco Impreza STi which actually uses AWD since it was allowed back in to the sport in 2006. It is a system based on the symetrical AWD found in the street STi. This makes the STi the closest to stock GT300 race car. It finally won a race in 2008 after earning almost every pole position.

Is that the wastegate dump in the front bumper?!

[EJ25RUN]

Is that the wastegate dump in the front bumper?!

I can't find a picture of the car with the front end off but i can't imagine that it would be anything else. Im pretty sure the brakes are cooled from the center portion of the front bumper.

[matthewAPM]

Not my cup of tea but cool none the less

[EJ25RUN]

Not my cup of tea but cool none the less

The series or the car itself?

[green91]

2gr no kidding.. based on the tacoma/avalon engine.

[claybird]

BAD AZZ mane

[matthewAPM]

The series or the car itself?

both.

[EJ25RUN]

both.

More a fan of the traditional style racing car i guess.

[matthewAPM]

More a fan of the traditional style racing car i guess.

I just hate crazy made up ricer racecars. Touring and GT cars or more my style. Personal I like more of endurance, touring, GT style races. ALMS/LMS, BTCC, WTCC, SWC, Grand-Am, Koni Challenge etc.

For me, winning a 24 hour of daytona in a GT car and 24 of Le Mans in a GT2 car is my dream. IDK why. just me.

[Elbow]

Is that the wastegate dump in the front bumper?!

Yes it is.

[EJ25RUN]

I just hate crazy made up ricer racecars. Touring and GT cars or more my style. Personal I like more of endurance, touring, GT style races. ALMS/LMS, BTCC, WTCC, SWC, Grand-Am, Koni Challenge etc.

For me, winning a 24 hour of daytona in a GT car and 24 of Le Mans in a GT2 car is my dream. IDK why. just me.

Le Mans is my favorite race and is the root of my like for motorsport. I guess the other stuff i just look at what makes each individual series unique. If the formula works, i'll probably like it. Above all, good racing draws me in and the variety you see in SuperGT is amazing. It's GT vs Prototypes
vs Touring cars all at ones.

1. Porsche 911 & Boxster
2. Lamborghini Murcialago & Gallardo
3. Ferrari F430
4. Chevy Corvette
5. Mooncraft Shiden (Riley Daytona prototype)
6. Vemac 320R
7. AMEMIYA RX7
8. Nissan 350Z
9. Toyota Corolla and MRS
10. Lexus ISF
11. ASL Gariya
12. Subaru Impreza
13. BMW Z4

And many more in the past like the NSX, Nissan Silvia, Chrysler Viper, Mosler MT900, Lotus Exige, Toyota Celica, Ferrari 360, and Porsche 968.

[greasemunkey]

badass looking car!

[mirz833]

sick car

[dazn]

I just hate crazy made up ricer racecars. Touring and GT cars or more my style. Personal I like more of endurance, touring, GT style races. ALMS/LMS, BTCC, WTCC, SWC, Grand-Am, Koni Challenge etc.

For me, winning a 24 hour of daytona in a GT car and 24 of Le Mans in a GT2 car is my dream. IDK why. just me.

ricer racecars? Not a fan of DTM either then eh? That corolla uses a hewland gearbox that costs more than some ST cars. crazy how much racing can cost sometimes. the world challenge touring cars use gearboxes boxes that cost twice as much as the donor car.

[matthewAPM]

ricer racecars? Not a fan of DTM either then eh? That corolla uses a hewland gearbox that costs more than some ST cars. crazy how much racing can cost sometimes. the world challenge touring cars use gearboxes boxes that cost twice as much as the donor car.

Yeah, I just hate JGTC with a passion. IDK why...

As for DTM, I love it! Just wish it came on here in the states...

And SWC doesnt use them anymore. standard trans. good for privateers.

[EJ25RUN]

Yeah, I just hate JGTC with a passion. IDK why...

As for DTM, I love it! Just wish it came on here in the states...

And SWC doesnt use them anymore. standard trans. good for privateers.

Since you have some say in this, try to give an explanation. Is it the racing? Or you think the cars look overdone?

They are in my eyes the modern era of group 5 like the Porsche 935 was.

[matthewAPM]

Since you have some say in this, try to give an explanation. Is it the racing? Or you think the cars look overdone?

They are in my eyes the modern era of group 5 like the Porsche 935 was.

Its the drivers and the way they race. They race like they are driving open wheel cars. I like battles, thats what makes racing run. Watch any European race and you will see true tooth and nail racing. but thats just me.

and yes, the cars look overdone. I think its funny they put all that money and time into those cars, yet many GT cars from Europe and the states are faster

[Elbow]

Its the drivers and the way they race. They race like they are driving open wheel cars. I like battles, thats what makes racing run. Watch any European race and you will see true tooth and nail racing. but thats just me.

and yes, the cars look overdone. I think its funny they put all that money and time into those cars, yet many GT cars from Europe and the states are faster

I don't think they are faster.

[EJ25RUN]

Its the drivers and the way they race. They race like they are driving open wheel cars. I like battles, thats what makes racing run. Watch any European race and you will see true tooth and nail racing. but thats just me.

and yes, the cars look overdone. I think its funny they put all that money and time into those cars, yet many GT cars from Europe and the states are faster

I gotta disagree with you on some of those points.

For what i have read, a SuperGT GT500 can lap a race track much faster than even an FIA GT1 machine. This is why the Maserati MC12 was so uncompetitive in the series a few years ago. To add, the McLaren F1 GTR was in its highest spec as a SuperGT machine and was still unable to beat the NSX, GTR/Z33, Supra/Soarer cars.

Here are some Fuji laptime comparisons. An LMP2 car is faster than a GT1 car...obviously. The current GT500 machines are a little quicker than the modern LMP2 car. I will look into more race tracks to get a real idea as the SuperGT visits only places in Japan and Maylasia so it is difficult to compare fastest laps.

• 
  Formula One - 1:17.287 Felipe Massa Ferrari F2008 October 11, 2008
  Formula Nippon - 1:25.525 Benoit Treluyer Lola FN06-Toyota March 31, 2007
  Le Mans Prototype - 1:31.065 Daisuke Ito Courage LC70-Mugen June 2, 2007
  Super GT (GT500) 1:33.066 Takashi Kogure Honda NSX May 3, 2007
  JLMC (LMP1) 1:33.117 Shinsuke Yamazaki Zytek 04S June 2, 2007

Also, i have downloaded 4 2008 races. the Suzuka 300km race, the SUGO 300km race, Motegi 300km, and the Fuji finale. All of which in their entire three and half hour japanese broadcasts.

So, i can definetly say the racing leaves nothing to be desired. Especially with the penalty system. It can be compared to the FIA GT championship except there is far more going on in terms of on track battles as there are close to 40 cars on the road. They do fight as well and many times collide into each other. It is not as agressive as fwd touring car racing but nothing is. This is GT racing and is a better show overall when compared to modern GT1 and 2.

Here is the only pic i could find of the 2007 Sugo race where they went 3 wide side by side over start/finish. The ARTA NSX almost hit the pit in wall because of this.



If you want to see some of these races, im sure they'd change your mind. Like i said, i watch every race from start to finish in HD.


NVM.....I found a BIG one.