|
Toyota's MR2 has a chance to maintain its 100 percent success rate in Bathurst production car enduros when it lines up for the Three Hour Showroom Showdown at Mt Panorama on November 14.
Toyota's mid-engined 2.0 litre MR2 sports car has captured victory in its class in every production car endurance race held at the famous Mt Panorama circuit this decade.
Should it emerge victorious in the three-hour race at the mountain it will be the model's sixth consecutive class victory.
MR2 won the sports car class in the gruelling Bathurst 12 hour in four consecutive years from 1991.
A distinguished lineup of drivers took Toyota MR2s to victory in these events including Juan Manuel Fangio II, Neal Bates and Colin Bond.
Toyota's best chance of class victory in 1998 lies with the two car Osborne Motorsport team of Colin Osborne and Ric Shaw, and Daniel Wilkie and Rob Porter.
Last year Colin Osborne and Anthony Robson captured class B of the three hour showroom showdown ahead of its main competition - Subaru WRX, Commodore GT-S and Nissan 200SX.
"Toyota MR2 has won its class at each Bathurst attempt since 1991," Colin Osborne said.
"So I suppose the pressure is on to maintain that record.
"The MR2's trump cards are its reliability, and its handling across and down the mountain.
"We will be aiming to repeat our performance last year when we won our class and finished in the top ten."
Of the 12 Toyota MR2s that have competed at Bathurst only one has failed to finish, representing a 92 percent reliability record.
Osborne's team has the runs on the board this year, taking victory in class D of the 1998 Australian GT-Production Car Championship.
Toyota Camry could begin its own Bathurst production car tradition when it takes on Holden Commodore, Ford Falcon and Mitsubishi Magna in the three-hour race.
Camry driver David Ratcliff recently claimed the class C title of the eight round GT-P series.
The 1998 3 Hour Showroom Showdown will take place the day before the FAI 1000 classic and will be televised live on Network TEN.
|
