Toyota 88C
 | |||
| Category | Group C Sports prototype | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Constructor | Dome | ||
| Designer(s) | Hiro Fujimori | ||
| Technical specifications | |||
| Chassis | Aluminium monocoque | ||
| Suspension (front) | Double wishbone suspension, coil-spring over damper | ||
| Suspension (rear) | Double wishbone suspension, coil-spring over damper | ||
| Engine | 88C: Toyota 3S-GTM 2100 cc Turbocharged Inline-4 88C-V: Toyota R32V 3200 cc Turbocharged V8; Mid-mounted | ||
| Transmission | manual transmission | ||
| Tyres | Bridgestone | ||
| Competition history | |||
| Notable entrants | Toyota Team 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. It is the successor to the Toyota 87C and the predecessor to the Toyota 89C-V. Like other Toyota-powered sports prototypes of the era it was designed and built by Dome.[1] The Toyota 88C-V is a slightly modified version of the 88C, adapted to fit Toyota's R32V 3.2 L (200 cu in) turbocharged V8 engine, instead of the 88C's standard turbocharged Inline-4. The 88Cs and 88C-Vs both competed in the All Japan Sports Prototype Championship, the World Sports-Prototype Championship, and the North American Camel GT Championship.
Racing history
Le Mans
The first two 88Cs made their debut at the 1988 24 Hours of Le Mans, entered by Tom's Team Toyota. Both cars completed the event with the car of drivers Geoff Lees, Masanori Sekiya, and Kaoru Hoshino finishing in 12th, while the second car was 24th. Toyota returned to Le Mans in 1989 with one 88C[2] joining two newer 89C-Vs. None of the three cars finished the race.
All Japan Sports Prototype Championship
The 88C made its debut in the All Japan Sports Prototype Championship following Le Mans in 1988 but it was not until the end of the 1989 season that the car managed to win. Paolo Barilla and Hitoshi Ogawa drove an 89C-V to victory at the Fuji International Speedway.
World Sports-Prototype Championship
During the 88C's debut JSPC season in 1988, two 88C-Vs participated in the Japanese round of the World Sports-Prototype Championship. The 1000 km of Fuji allowed Toyota another chance to compete against European competitors since Le Mans. The two cars were able to finish but were the last cars classified. The 88C made a final WSPC appearance early in the 1989 season when Toyota Team Tom's entered a lone car at Dijon-Prenois while awaiting their newer 89C-Vs. The 88C finished in fourth in the hands of Geoff Lees and Johnny Dumfries.
Camel GT Championship
In 1989 Toyota and All American Racers entered the GTP category of IMSA's Camel GT Championship. One car was designed by AAR and entered as the Eagle HF89, while the second entry was a modified 88C. Both were powered by same turbocharged inline-4 engine and produced approximately 600 horsepower.[3]
The 88C-based car, also known as Eagle Mk.I, made its debut at the 1989 Daytona 24 Hours race but retired from the event. Due to troubles with the HF89 car, the team concentrated its efforts on the Mk.I throughout the rest of the season. After the completion of the season AAR concentrated their efforts on the HF89 and the latter Mk.III.
References
- ^ "Dome Museum". Retrieved 2009-08-25.
- ^ "Car #38 details". lemans.org. Automobile Club de l'Ouest. Retrieved 2010-06-30.
- ^ "JOHN STARKEY CARS :: GRYFON INC". Retrieved 2009-02-27.