Racecar Lust--Toyota Eagle Mk. III
Over the last two days, we've explored two endearing misfits of the IMSA GTP series--the Mazda RX-792P and the Chevrolet Corvette GTP--but I think it's time to return to a dominant force.
Part of the appeal of sports car racing is in the sheer diversity of equipment allowed; unlike "spec" or near-spec racing, engineering is as much a part of the game as driving skill. However, this very strength means that it's difficult to prevent a single car or team from finding the magic combination and walking over the opposition. That's been true in every iteration, and the exotic specification of IMSA GTP made it more susceptible than most series.
In IMSA's case, the pattern resembled that of a succession of tribal warlords, in which a challenger vanquishes the previous ruler, only to warily defend against the next challenger. IMSA GTP opened to disorganized chaos but quickly came under the reign of the Porsche 956/962, which after several years was knocked off by the Nissan GTP-ZX. Then came the Toyota Eagle Mk. III--the ne plus ultra of IMSA GTP racing.
Fielded by racing legend Dan Gurney and his ironically-named All American Racing Toyota team, Toyota's first IMSA GTP effort was merely another quasi-competitive challenger to the all-conquering Nissans. The debut of the Mk. III changed all that, as suddenly Nissan and Jaguar had a real fight on their hands--a fight that quickly became a rout as Toyota continued to develop the Mk. III and Nissan and Jaguar dropped out of the series.
When IMSA GTP collapsed in 1993, after spiraling costs drove even the biggest manufacturers out of the sport, the Eagle Mk. III stood as possibly the most technologically complex and fastest sports racer of all time--and I might make the case that it still holds those titles. With a 2.1-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, the Eagle won 17 races in a row at one point and the car still owns track records at several tracks it raced at--and was as fast as Indy cars when the two series raced at the same tracks.
The Eagle Mk. III won, but it was so dominant that it killed the series.
--Chris H.
Nathan of Brainfertilizer Fame on June 12, 2008 at 11:07 AM
And what did all that racing prowess bring us?
The Yaris.
A less-sarcastic answer isn't much better: the Celica really hasn't ever been considered in the top echelon of sports cars like the 350Z. And nothing from Toyota seems to approach the the speed/handling combo of the Maxima or the Integra.
I think I'm going to go cry.
Mochi Mochi on June 12, 2008 at 03:09 PM
GTP Success and the Yaris. Oddly compelling. Nathan, I saw a Yaris that was heading towards boy racer status. It had been lowered and shod with fat little tires on light alloy rims. The effect was really pretty sweet. A few years down the line, the Yaris could actually be a contentious little street racer. The Xa and Xb will too. The Yaris as a sedan is pretty ugly, but the Yaris hatch is kind of cute - much like a pug dog. The sedan is way too staid and lack luster, but the hatch as some appeal.
As far as GTP and the Toyota, yeah, success kills a good band, and a great racing scene. When you are too successful it just gets boring. The whole point gets lost. As Porsche was rising to a dominant state it was great to watch it rise. All the failures along the way were part of the fun. I've heard about the trials of the 917, cooling fans that would take off and rip through all the body work - that was at idle in the pits. But after a while, you just got tired of watching them cover the race tracks like flies. Driver skill always counts, but it helps if the cars and the engineers are competing at the same time. When it becomes a war of capital attrition - whose purse is big enough to fund perfect engineering - well that's no fun any more. Time to start a new race series.
Nathan of Brainfertilizer Fame on June 13, 2008 at 10:13 AM
I got excited one day when I saw a Yaris with the "S" badge, which signifies Toyota's sporty modifications.
I was imagining a Yaris-level luxury (a lack thereof) with perhaps a Lexus 2.5l engine. Yowsa.
At the very least, I was thinking it could be a return to the weight/power combo of early 90s Corollas, updated by 15 years of engineering experience.
Then I got home and researched it, and found out it was the equivalent of mid-70s muscle-car-via-racing-stripe move. They added pretty much only 15" wheels. Bummer.
And the xB...? Did you see what they did to it for 2008? It was a peppy 1.5liter with low weight, based on the Yaris platform, I think. They changed it to the Camry (!) platform, loaded it down with weight and mushy handling.
...and I've often felt that the Scion line is way too overpriced. The street cred aspect comes at a premium, which diminishes the motivation to get one.
I'm hoping Mazda doesn't screw up the 3 and the 6 the way Toyota has sucked the driving enjoyment out of most of their cars (except for the RAV4, at least).
Fish Monger on August 01, 2008 at 10:12 PM
I'd just like to put in my 2¢ towards the Toyota Mk III. I was there at PIR in Portland in 1991 when Juan pasted the field. It was like listening to the 1st 4 cyl Renault Turbo @ the Long Beach GP, 1978?
When I moved back to Oregon in 1985, and had the chance to see the MKIII in action in '91 - I was amazed @ the ability of a 4 cyl turbo chassis to literally "Yank" big baritone H.P. from 2.1 CC's. WOW.
After the race I wandered towards the pits, searching out the 99.
As I approached, it was coated front to semi-stern w/brake dust, the team director walked up and asked "Do you want to sit in it?" My 5'7" frame would fit but I was shocked at his openness. After all Dan Gurney a few feet away was coming out of his transporter. Yep, I slid over the wide sill and semi installed myself - very tight. I felt it was the widest/tightest surrounding high speed Go•kart - all encompassing.
I realized that day that nothing short of light wt. multi turbo Porsches could ever reach that honor.
GTP was a time, similar to the death knell of "Can-Am" we should all appreciate. Powerful, precise engineering.
–Bill Fisher
Ignite on May 07, 2009 at 01:48 PM
are any Toyota Mk.III Eagles in circulation? I would love to see this car in action.