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It is not day-after-day you get to drive a racetrack, however that is precisely what occurred on the not too long ago concluded Toyota Gazoo Racing Competition at Clark Worldwide Speedway. Whereas the spotlight of the occasion was the preview of the upcoming 2023 Toyota GR86, it was additionally a uncommon alternative for us to check drive the Toyota Vios OMR race vehicles.
So, what precisely do you get with Toyota Vios OMR (One Make Race) racing vehicles? Nicely, with a price ticket of round P1.4 million as of 2019, numerous issues are eliminated within the technique of turning it right into a race automotive. There isn’t any infotainment to talk of, nor any rear seats and never even sound insulation. The carpets have been eliminated and all you get are uncovered steel plates, a roll cage and OMP racing seats with a six-point harness that commerce long-distance consolation for lateral help. Sure, you pay extra for fewer luxuries however then, you get so much by way of efficiency enhancements.
In trade for the luxuries, you get a efficiency increase because of heavier brakes, stiffer springs, a sports activities exhaust system and even a correct limited-slip differential (LSD) for the Vios to place all that energy to the bottom with out an excessive amount of drama. That is not all of the upgrades made to the Vios OMR, nonetheless, because the elimination of any sound insulation and carpeting has additionally made the subcompact sedan lighter.
It is a bummer, nonetheless, that the mannequin we bought to check was the CVT variant. We desire the handbook model, because it affords extra linear and responsive throttle response, however not less than the CVT makes motorsport extra accessible to a wider viewers.
The engine stays unchanged. It is nonetheless the identical 1.5-liter four-cylinder that produces 106 hp and 140 Nm of torque. Due to the weight-reduction measures, it feels extra energetic to drive than the consumer-grade Vios GR Sport we reviewed final 12 months.
Toyota Vios OMR race automotive OUR PHOTO
With no sound insulation to talk of, in addition to having stiffer springs, it is about as uncooked as you may get in a Toyota Vios. The very best promoting automotive within the nation has grow to be a racing automotive that permits you to really feel each component round you. You are feeling the pace extra due to sturdy wind, highway, and engine noise, which could be a unhealthy factor in day by day driving. Out on the monitor, these sensations are precisely what you are on the lookout for.
These Vios OMR vehicles supply a distinct stage of driving. The electrical energy steering in OMR vehicles has extra really feel, although its response is unchanged from the usual mannequin. The engine additionally has much less mass to hold, which implies in addition they speed up sooner than consumer-grade fashions. Moreover, stiffer springs and sportier brakes make it simpler for drivers to confidently push the automotive out onto the monitor.
Toyota Vios OMR race vehicles are actually very completely different from the fashions bought in showrooms. These are in the end uncooked race vehicles that may be avenue authorized for on a regular basis use – assuming the thought of an on a regular basis automotive means listening to each exterior noise and nothing rear seats in lieu of a roll cage.
