86Cup: An inexpensive time attack series for the GR86, BRZ and FR-S

Words by Jeric Jaleco

Every driver loves to feel like a hero. It’s why weekend warriors evolve into zealous disciples of the sport: so that they, too, can channel their inner Keiichi Tsuchiya or Ben Collins. 

For fans of Subaru’s BRZ and its Toyota-branded variants, the 86Cup Presented by GT Radial time attack league grants that extra competitive edge to miserly racers. Think of it as a chance to let working-class drivers go at it like pros, even for a single Saturday, while giving attendees a spectacle worth watching. 

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“The appeal and allure of 86Cup is to foster a community surrounding the FT86 platform,” 86Cup SoCal’s admin and social media manager, Adam Johnston, explains. “We aim to provide beginners and veterans with a perfect environment for not only developing their cars but also their driving skills with the 86 platform.”

Builds can range from mild to wild, with the Stock class running rubber from series sponsor GT Radial. Faster classes, though, can run 200tw tires from the current crop of available options. Off-track camaraderie draws people to the series, competitors state. 

A no-cost extra atop several standard track days, the California-based 86Cup latches onto HPDE weekends nationwide alongside similar leagues, such as Wilwood Corvette Challenge, GR Movement and CSF Bimmer Challenge. Highlights are viewed through 86Cup’s Instagram accounts across numerous regional chapters, with SoCal and NorCal consistently being the most active with the longest seasons. 

Races can embed themselves into several different track days, including Speed Ventures events at Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch, The Streets of Willow Springs and WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Although the series originated in the Golden State, it has since bled across the country, seeing venues like High Plains Raceway in Colorado, VIR in Virginia and Lime Rock Park in Connecticut. 

86Cup is divided into four classes to cater to all budgets, with the main overarching rule being to field a Toyobaru. Stock is the starter class, although “stock” is partially a slight stretch. Powertrains are largely untouched, but minimal reliability and adjustability mods like oil coolers and camber bolts/plates are permitted. Stock is required to run that season’s current spec GT Radial summer tire.

The densely packed Street class features more involved builds with more aggressive suspension and tire setups allowed. During a recent event with Speed Ventures at Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch, more than half the 86s funneled themselves here.

The middle ground is the Mod class, which allows 86s to sport stickier tires and dive deeper into two of three disciplines: aero, forced induction and mechanical grip. Mod cars are essentially halfway between typical street tuners and dedicated track builds.

Unlimited reigns supreme with builds that’d have Caymans sweating. Participants can gut their cars, boost them all the way, run 200tw tires, or rep every suspension bit in a brand’s catalog. Although coupling a fat wing with meaty 200tw rubber is an easy ticket to get bumped into Unlimited, it’s best not to trifle with this class. Even on a big-power track like Spring Mountain’s Charleston Peak, several drivers in this class outran the M3s and Vettes in the same run groups.

The recent events at Spring Mountain and Buttonwillow were a testament to the camaraderie fostered by 86Cup. Most run groups brim with 86Cup participants, with one advanced group at Spring Mountain boasting half a dozen racers. Fun and community take precedence over any seasonal point standings.

“It’s cool to talk shop with other people on the same platform to see what they did with developing their car,” explains competitor Vincent Cenizal. “I ask them the way they would attack a corner to help me learn the track more and drive faster.”

“Like many time attack series, there’s a lot of friendly competition among participants,” fellow auto journalist and CSF Bimmer Challenge driver Peter Nelson adds. “People want to help each other out, and the byproduct is solid driving skill among the ranks.”

And even if you’re not a driver, there’s never-ending whimsy in watching your fellow enthusiasts turn HPDE weekends into battles for bragging rights against the stopwatch. When it costs zero dollars extra to participate or spectate, how can you say no? You can simply sit back and smile on a Saturday well spent.

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