2022 GR86 Premium Results @ Car and Driver Lightning Lap 2022 Competition
 

2022 Toyota GR86 Premium at Lightning Lap 2022

The Toyobaru twins are equal, but this one is a little more equal than the other.

Lap Time: 3:11.8

Class: LL1 | Base: $31,325 | As Tested: $31,750
Power and Weight: 228 hp • 2833 lb • 12.4 lb/hp
Tires: Michelin Pilot Sport 4, 215/40R-18 85Y

The Toyota GR86 and Subaru BRZ are the automotive equivalent of identical twins separated at birth. It's the age-old question of nature versus nurture—they start with the same mechanical DNA, but how did each parent influence their progeny's development?

The GR86 has firmer suspension tuning and a stiffer rear anti-roll bar, which makes it more willing to hang its tail out on the street. But on the track, we couldn't tell the difference between it and the BRZ; they exhibit the exact same behavior. Same sharp steering. Same nimbleness. Same tendency to engage in sexy opposite-lock tail slides.

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But not the same lap time. The GR86 is 0.6 second quicker, with 0.4 second of its advantage coming in the sector that includes the tight bends of Oak Tree and Bitch and the long back straight. Around the rest of the lap, it trades tiny increments of time and speed back and forth with the Subaru. Measured against history, the GR86 is 2.2 seconds quicker than the 2018 BRZ tS we ran in Lightning Lap 12.

This year's Lightning Lap did unearth a shared shortcoming with the Toyobaru twins: Without the BRZ's brake-fluid upgrade, the GR86's brakes were so feeble, they'd inch closer and closer to the floor as the lap went on. They kept performing, just not inspiring. So, if you're hoping to track either of these coupes, we recommend at least replacing the brake fluid and stock pads. That's not all they have in common, of course. From the driver's seat these twins are indistinguishable—two cars, one kick-ass track experience.

Watch the GR86 lap video:
https://www.caranddriver.com/feature...lightning-lap/

Read the Lightning Lap 2022 Competition Article:
https://www.caranddriver.com/feature...ning-lap-2022/

Well that's it then. Anyone who buys a BRZ is clearly an idiot.

Replacing my 13 continues to be compelling…

You say that, but I didn’t want anything too crazy.

Sounds fun! If you track it, brake pads and fluid will be changed often anyway.

I did read that the '22 BRZ was more composed than the GR86. However, it seems that Toyota finally hit the jackpot when they wanted different dynamics than the BRZ, which results in faster (for C&D) vs Gen1 BRZ overall results (which placed BRZ #1 almost every time they were compared).

Almost 8s faster than a 2017 PP BRZ.. Not all the E85 in the world is gonna close that gap. But,I still like my PIF BRZ.:bonk:

Meh it's only 2.2 seconds faster than the 2018 BRZ TS which has the same MPS4 tires. You don't even need E85, you could close that gap with E60 ;)

Here's the cheese. There is no 22' BRZ TS ;) so the comparison isn't applicable. You can't mention the same-same tires and leave out the BBK, aero, chassis bracing, and track oriented suspension. Realistically the 2Gen is $200 in offset tophats and crash bolts away from putting 2 additional seconds on the 1Gen.

"Meh only 2.2 seconds" really shows you don't know track times. 2.2 seconds is a considerable gap. I'm guessing a gen 1 owner?

I don't understand gen 1 owners when they try to talk down gen 2. I mean guys gen 2 means there'll be more support for the gen 1...

Haha I didn't mean my comment seriously (see the smiley), but ok being a bit more serious now. Most of the difference with the TS trim comes down to the MPS4 tires. The TS and the 2022 upper trims pull the same skidpad numbers on the same tires, regardless of the TS suspension. The BBK won't help, C&D got the 2022 brakes to last the full hot lap. The OEM TS aero is mild, even Subaru admits that. Chassis bracing, not going to have a meaningful effect.

If you took a base 1st gen BRZ and simply changed to the MPS4 tires, you'd find most of the difference in time there. The MPS4 tires generate ~0.98g lateral grip compared to ~0.90 on the Primacy's. That's a huge difference, more than any of the other changes on the TS.

Nope, my 2022 BRZ is on order and coming in May. Not "talking down" at all on the 2nd gen, just being honest. For laptime purposes, it is what it is, basically a power upgrade over the 1st gen. Also if you've ever driven VIR it's a long track, especially in the Grand Course configuration C&D uses. 2.2 seconds over a 3+ min lap is enough to be significant, but not exactly a huge difference.

Well, lets keep this going because I disagree with judging possible lap times based on peak G levels at skidpad. Its one data point of a steady state one dimensional test. There is no relevance on dynamic handling or driver confidence. Its like 0-60 test vs real world. No one drives the brochure numbers; unless you own a Tesla..

Anyway, are you saying all the track focused modifications done on the TS don't really do anything? I do find that interesting. I agree that the same tires would help a regular 1Gen shave ~3-4sec and then E85 would close it further. BUT, a few degrees of front camber on the 2Gen and way she goes boys. Way she freaking goes.

Yeah steady state skidpad doesn't tell the whole story but it is probably the best indicator of overall tire grip there is, which correlates strongly (again not perfectly) to lap times.

The bolded part above I agree with. Sure front camber helps gen 2, but same with gen 1 since they share the same suspension design. When it comes to actual laptimes with the TS, I do think the upgraded tires are doing the majority of the work.

Gen 1 with E85/header/tune is going to run very close lap times to stock Gen 2, assuming both are on the same tires. The independent track data we've seen already supports this at tracks like Buttonwillow.

expected a bigger gap between this and the Ts.