September 14, 2021 – Toyota GR 86 named pace car for NASA (it’s not what you think)

On September 14, 2021, Toyota announced that the all-new 2022 GR 86 would take on pace car duties at the National Auto Sport Association (NASA) National Championships at Daytona International Speedway. Beginning on Thursday, September 16, the GR 86 led nearly 400 competitors from over 25 classes on the 3.81-mile track, famously known for the 24 Hours of Daytona. The championship races culminated on Sunday, September 19.

“We are thrilled to have the new GR 86 selected as the official pace car of NASA’s National Championships,” said Michael Tripp, vice president of Toyota Vehicle Marketing and Communications, ahead of the event. “This car is perfectly at home on a road course, and it will be great to see it lead all the classes out onto the track” (Toyota News Press Release, 2021).

The GR 86, featuring custom red, white, and black graphics, guided competitors through two qualifying races, setting the final grid for the winner-takes-all championship. Spec classes saw drivers compete in nearly identical cars, while modified classes brought a variety of makes and models into direct competition.

Jeremy Croiset, vice president of NASA, expressed his excitement, stating, “It’s really an honor to have Toyota step up with the GR 86 as the pace car of our marquee championship event… I can’t think of a more perfect car for this” (Toyota News Press Release, 2021).

This marked another step in Toyota‘s collaboration with NASA, which began in 2019. The partnership offered GR Supra and GR 86 owners complimentary NASA memberships and track instruction opportunities. Powered by a 2.4-liter, 228-hp four-cylinder engine, the 2022 GR 86 provided both manual and automatic transmission options, making its debut on one of racing’s most iconic tracks.