Toyota 88C
 | |||
| Category | Sports Prototype | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Constructor | Dome | ||
| Designer(s) | Dome | ||
| Technical specifications | |||
| Chassis | Aluminium monocoque | ||
| Suspension (front) | Double wishbone suspension, coil-spring over damper | ||
| Suspension (rear) | Double wishbone suspension, coil-spring over damper | ||
| Engine | Toyota 3S-GTM (88C); R32V 3.2L Turbo V8 (88C-V) 2100 cc (88C); 3200 cc (88C-V) Inline-4 (88C); V8 (88C-V) Turbocharged, mid-mounted | ||
| Transmission | manual transmission | ||
| Tyres | Bridgestone | ||
| Competition history | |||
| Notable entrants | Toyota, TOM'S, All American Racers | ||
| Notable drivers | Hitoshi Ogawa, Paolo Barilla, Geoff Lees, Masanori Sekiya, Kaoru Hoshino | ||
| Debut | 1988 | ||
| Last season | 1989 | ||
| |||
| Constructors' Championships | 0 | ||
| Drivers' Championships | 0 | ||
The Toyota 88C is a racing car entered by Toyota from 1988 to 1989. Like other Toyota-powered prototype sports cars, it was designed and built by Dome[1]. The Toyota 88C-V is a slightly modified version of the 88C, adapted to fit the R32V 3.2-liter turbocharged V8 engine, instead of the inline-4. The 88C/C-V was raced from 1988 to 1989 in the All Japan Sports Prototype Championship, in FIA Group C competition, as well as IMSA's premier sports-car racing category, the GTP division.
All Japan Sports Prototype Championship
The 88C made its debut in the JSPC in 1988, but it did not win a race until the final round of the championship in 1989. With Barilla and Ogawa at the helm, the Toyota 88C-V won at Fuji International Speedway.
FIA Group C
The car made its debut at the 1988 24 Hours of Le Mans, as entered by Tom's Team Toyota, with Geoff Lees, Masanori Sekiya, and Kaoru Hoshino driving. The best finish was a 12th place overall, although 43 laps down to the winner. The other 88C finished 24th.
Both 88C-V cars were entered in the 1988 1000km of Fuji, and they were the last remaining finishers of the race, in 21st and 22nd place. Only one 88C-V was entered for the 1989 24 Hours of Le Mans, which was painted blue and white in deference to its primary sponsor, Minolta. The lone 88C-V retired after only 20 laps, classified as 53rd place.
All-American Racers
In 1989, the new team used two types of cars; the other chassis was an Eagle HF89 car (an FIA Group C-based car). Both were powered by a turbocharged, 2.1-liter inline-4 engine producing approximately 600 horsepower[2].
The car made its debut at the 1989 Daytona 24 Hours race (car #98), but retired from the event. Due to troubles with the HF89 car, the team concentrated its efforts on the #98 car throughout the rest of the season. AAR did not enter the Toyota 88C after 1989.
Video Games
The Toyota 88C-V (based on the real-life 1989 Le Mans entry) is available as an "prize car"[3] in the Playstation 2 game Gran Turismo 4.
References
- ^ "Dome Museum". Retrieved 2009-08-25.
- ^ "JOHN STARKEY CARS :: GRYFON INC". Retrieved 2009-02-27.
- ^ "GTPlanet Game Guides". Retrieved 2009-08-25.