Toyota announced today that its latest hot hatch, the GR Corolla, will handle pace car duties for the 2022 National Auto Sport Association (NASA) National Championships, which take place at Laguna Seca next month. For the event, the GR Corolla will don a special livery inspired by Toyota Gazoo Racing motorsport and endurance racing liveries. The car will lead more than 350 entrants in 25 racing classes at the iconic circuit over the course of the championship weekend, which takes place from September 15-18, 2022.
The 300 hp hot hatch is
powered by a 1.6-liter, four-cylinder engine that is mated exclusively to a
manual transmission and sends its power to all four wheels. The AWD system
allows drivers to select how much torque is sent to each axle, with options for
a 60-40, 50-50 or 30-70 split at the front and rear wheels respectively.
Unveiled earlier this year, the new
Corolla can do more than just be a pace car at NASA events. Toyota announced
that owners will automatically receive a complimentary one-year membership to
the association. In addition, they will also receive a complimentary track day
at a NASA High Performance Driving Event that offers owners the opportunity to
receive tutelage from a pro to help them get the most out of their vehicle.
The GR Corolla Pace car, meanwhile, will
be at the front of the pack for every race at NASA’s championship weekend,
including the winner-take-all final race on Sunday, September 18.
