Toyota 86 Racing Series expands for 2018

For its upcoming third season, the Toyota 86 Racing Series will expand from five rounds to six, including the one-make series’ first visit to South Australia.
The support category for selected rounds of the 2018 Virgin Australia Supercars series kicks off at Phillip Island in April, followed by Townsville in July and SA's new ‘The Bend Motorsport Park’ in August.
Managing Director of The Bend Motorsport Park, Sam Shahin, said he’s excited at the prospect of working with the series.
"The circuit configuration for the 86s will be 4.95km with 18 challenging turns - a fast and flowing layout," he said.
"It will be a rewarding, technical circuit with terrific overtaking opportunities - whether at hairpin corners or the end of the 15 metre-wide main straight."

A return to Melbourne's Sandown circuit in September, a third visit to Mount Panorama in October and the season finale at the Newcastle street circuit in November will complete the six-round series.

Toyota Australia's senior divisional manager sales and marketing, Sean Hanley, said the 86 Racing Series is a great opportunity for aspiring drivers to show their credentials in front of large crowds, potential sponsors and TV audiences.

"Next year's calendar provides even more challenges and variety, with the country's two fastest circuits at Phillip Island and Bathurst, as well as Sandown, a brand new venue at Tailem Bend and the two street circuits."
The Toyota 86 Racing Series features a diverse grid of racers, from high-school students to racing veterans, while established motorsport teams also use the series as a development program.
Each round features two established drivers as benchmarks for the regular entrants, with Toyota also providing driver mentors for competitors.
The six rounds for the 2018 Toyota 86 Racing Series are: Phillip Island 400, 20-22 April; Townsville 400, 6-8 July; The Bend SuperSprint, 24-26 August; Sandown 500, 14-16 September; Bathurst 1000, 4-7 October and Newcastle 500, 23-25 November.