Will’s Dual Duty Neptune GR86

[Will_]

I picked up my ‘23 GR86 PMT in Neptune a few days ago on August 4th. This car will serve dual duty as a commuter and track car, although will likely be more track focused as I WFH frequently and have a very short commute.

Current Mod List:
Annex FastRoad Pro Coilovers, 7k/8k Swift springs
Cusco rear upper control arms
SPC rear lower control arms
17x9.5 ET40 Apex VS5-RS, 255/40/17 Kuhmo V730
CSG Spec pads, Castrol SRF fluid
Nameless Performance axleback exhaust (w/ optional 5” mufflers)
20% tint all around

As it sits now:


If you like track videos, I am on instagram (@trackday_GR86) as well as Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcT...szY9tFA/videos

First, a little background. My previous car was a MK7 GTI, which I bought new in 2017 and sold earlier this year. After three years of messing about with random mods and doing canyon drives, my friend convinced me to come along with him to Autocross, and…well as they say the rest is history. I started tracking in June 2020 and have done I think 18 days since, all in my GTI to this point. I built the car up was I went, jumping around between different setups as I figured out what I needed and wanted. At the end of its run, the car was pretty darn quick, but suffered from overheating issues that, while fixable, would require quite a lot of backtracking and rebuilding. I decided with the used market how it was and the car getting up there in miles, it was a good time to sell and try a new platform.



I am not totally new to the 86 platform, as my girlfriend had a 2020 BRZ that I drove frequently and autocrossed a few times, so I had a pretty good idea what I was getting into. I put a deposit down on March 10th and received an allocation on July 10th. I had asked for a premium MT in any color, and luckily got Neptune, my first choice. A quick shoutout to Toyota 101 of Redwood City, CA, for selling the car to me at MSRP. Very easy buying experience.

Being in Northern California I’m lucky enough to have 4 tracks relatively close by: Sonoma, Laguna Seca, Thunderhill and Buttonwillow. I usually track with SpeedSF or NCRC. With this car, I plan on building it to compete in both Speed SF’s time trial competition (S4 category) and the 86Drive Challenge “Touring” class. Luckily these two classes have pretty much overlapping rules, so I should be able to run the car in both without having to switch setups. I’m not sure how many events for each I can attend each year, as generally I only manage 8-10 days a year, but we’ll see. Personally I’m more interested in finding my personal limits and playing around with different setups, but I’m interested to see how I compare to other drivers in similar cars.

My current PRs (all in the GTI) are:
Thunderhill East (bypass): 2:02.33
Thunderhill West: 1:25.65
Sonoma: 1:55.27
Laguna Seca: 1:44.06

I think I can get the GR86 to these lap times and eclipse them with some stick 200tws and a proper suspension setup, but we’ll see. I’m very excited to learn RWD and driving stick on track, compared to the GTI that was DSG and obviously FWD.

[Will_]

First changes to the car are pretty simple. JDM clear side markers, as I found the OEM amber ones quite ugly, and a Cusco pedal extender. In the old BRZ, I found the gas pedal slightly too deep and short to heel-toe comfortable, so I ordered this before I even got the cars. After a bit of a hassle installing, a quick test drive on some canyon roads made me glad I made this decision. It is much easier to heel toe now and I can execute downshifts quickly while maintaining solid pedal pressure. Excited to try it out under track conditions, which are always more difficult.




I also picked up some lightly used Gen 1 Annex Fastroad Coilovers, SPC RLCAs, and Endless MX72 brake pads. While I previously had thought of just using camber bolts and Pedders offset top hats to get the camber I was after, I knew I would go to coilovers soon after anyways so figured I might as well just do the install/alignment once and get it over with. These will all go on in a few weeks after break in is done, and I change the oil/brake fluid. The coilovers will be a bit of an experiemnt, as per Annex the new Gen cars require more rear stroke than Gen 1, so we shall see how they handle. The spring rates (7k/8k) are about what I was thinking would go well with the tires I plan on running (245/40/17 RS4s or similar) and my usage, here’s to hoping I’m right. I will probably try a new setup in a year or two anyway knowing myself, so if these aren’t perfect it’s no big deal.



Edit: if anyone knows how to rotate photos on this godforsaken platform please LMK

[Will_]

20% ceramic tint done today, and got my Apex wheels in yesterday. After I finish break in and do 1k oil change, I will throw on pads (Endless MX72 Plus) and probably the coilovers, but we’ll see. Going to do a few track days on stock tires before throwing on the Apexs, which I’ll probably wrap in RS4s or V730s.

[Will_]

Last week I drove about 500 miles on Saturday to expedite the break in period and see how I felt after a couple hours in the seat. I actually felt great after a few 3-4 hour stints and was surprised at how comfy the seats were. Better than I recall my old 2020 BRZ being. I highly recommend anyone going from LA to the Bay Area to take a detour via Highway 198 if you can spare the extra hour. It is a seriously great road and very pretty.



This weekend installed the below:
Annex Fastroad coilovers (Gen 1, 7k/8k Swift springs)
Endless MX72 Plus pads
SPC rear lower control arms








Took me about 4hrs or so. I think if I were to do it again I could probably do it in 2-3, was a bit of a learning curve as this was my first time doing coilovers (although I’ve previously done some other suspension work on my GTI). First impressions after the drive home: very happy with the ride quality and noise. On nearly full soft (like 2/24 clicks) it honestly feels like stock. I’m not getting any unwanted noise either despite the solid metal front and rear mounts. Excited to try them on track in a few weeks. Still have to dial height in a little. I forgot to measure but it’s definitely about an 1” lower than stock at the moment.

I also got some Motul 300V oil in from CounterSpaceGarage. Will be getting an alignment/brake fluid flush done next week. First track is scheduled for 9/17 with SpeedSF at Thunderhill West. Will be part of the NorCal 86 Drive Challenge, I believe I’ll be in the “Street” class with my mods on the stock tires.

[Will_]

Alignment, brake fluid flush (Castrol SRF), and 1k oil change done today (Motul 300V). Probably the ugliest pre-alignment stats I’ve ever seen but all that matters is the new setup which looks great! First track day is Sep 17th in at Thunderhill West with SpeedSF, then looking at Oct 7 at Thunderhill East w/ CorsaClub.

[Will_]

Track day yesterday at Thunderhill West, running in the Norcal 86Drive Challenge time trial series. It was quite the learning experience, as this was my first time tracking a RWD and manual car. In this first two sessions I found myself slightly overwhelmed trying to heel toe and execute smooth shifts while braking at the limit, so in the 3rd and 4th sessions I did the whole track in 3rd/4th. In the final session, which was open track and allowed me to be out there for about 35mins, I worked on both my shifting and "car contrl" ie drifting skills. Overall it was a great day and I learned a ton about driving this car. My best time for the day was 1:29.491, which is about 2.5s off what I know a very fast driver has done on stock PS4 tires. My time was set in about 80F temps, had I driven that lap in the first morning session it probably would've been closer to 1:28.5. The car ran great all day - never saw oil temps above 245F and brakes (MX72 Plus) held up fine, only fading a tiny bit in one braking zone after about 10 laps.

My plan is to run a few more days on stock tires, then throw on 245/40/17 Champiro SX2s (spec tire for Street Class in 86Drive Challenge) on the 17x9 Apex's. Don't see myself making any other mods for the time being, I'm quite happy with the balance of the car. I may try to dial in a bit more front camber though, at 2.7 I seemed to be getting a little bit more outer shoulder wear than desirable.

Pics and videos:





Best lap:

[Clipdat]

Nice brake pad choice! I have the same kind on my 18 WRX.


Hope to see your GR86 around the bay sometime.

[Will_]

Another track day at Thunderhill West, again running in the 86Drive Challenge. Took 1.2s off my previous best today, quite happy with the time but still a few improvements to be made. Ditching my OEM wheel/tire setup before the next track day for some 245 Champiro SX2s (spec tire for this series) on 17x9 Apex wheels.

[Will_]

Apex wheels (Arc-8 17x9 ET42) and 245/40/17 GT Radial Champiro SX2 tires (spec tire for 86Drive Challenge).

Need to dial in ride height a bit (already on Annex Fastroad Pro coilovers) but very happy with the fitment so far.

[Will_]

Nameless Performance axleback exhaust installed this weekend. Also lowered the front 10mm and swapped out the lug nuts. Next up is a track day at Buttonwillow on 11/25, then Thunderhill East on 12/10. I’ve ordered some Cusco RUCAs to help with rear tire clearance, I plan on removing the SPC lower control arms as I was advised by my shop that they’ve seen them slip alignment when running higher grip tires. I also will probably add a 5mm spacer and front camber bolts to target about 3.2-3.4F camber, I am at about 2.8 now and may need just a touch more.

Video with lots of sound clips:

[Will_]

Cusco rear upper control arms and alignment done yesterday. Track day tomorrow at Buttonwillow, my first time there. Also ordered some ARP extended studs as the stock ones are already starting to look a little messed up. Will add a 5mm front spacer as well for a bit more inner clearance, although currently I’m not rubbing at full lock.

[Will_]

First time at Buttonwillow yesterday was a success. Put down a 2:03.522 and took P1 in the 86DriveChallenge street class. I am about 1s off the class record, but I think next time out I can take it. I had two good chances at 2:02 but messed both up, and the first session was a bit of a wash as I’d never driven the track. Car ran well all day, but I will definitely need to invest in an oil cooler soon. Really felt in need of a better seat today too, was moving about in my seat way too much.

[Will_]

This weekend I was at Thunderhill, taking part on Saturday in the 86Drive Challenge season finale (running the East Cyclone configuration) and on Sunday mostly playing pit crew but putting in a few laps on the East Bypass configuration.

Saturday got off to a wet and wild start as it was pouring rain in the morning. I hesitantly went out for the first session, only to immediately spin on the outlap (at like 30mph) and nearly get my car stuck in the mud. After a shameful retreat to the pits I decided to wait till it got a bit drier. Luckily the rain stopped around 11am and the track began rapidly drying. In my final session of the day, on my final lap, I managed to run a 2:08.955, good for P1 in Street class and also a new class lap record. It was a tight competition as I finished only 3/10ths ahead of 2nd and 5/10th from 3rd, all three of us breaking the previous class record. Lap is below. This lap should have been even quicker, potentially a 2:07, but I somehow went 4-5 instead of 4-3 into T11, losing close to a second.

Day 2, I was not originally planning on driving, as my girlfriend was tracker her GTI and I was going to serve as pit crew. A chance came up to put in a few laps however and I had to go for it. Running this time the East Bypass configuration (about 2-4s faster than Cyclone depending on the car), I managed a 2:05.19, which unofficially is 2s faster than the existing 86Drive Challenge street class record for this course. As it was recorded on my phone GPS and not during an official event, it does not count, but I am still quite proud of the lap.

Overall it was a great weekend. Car ran flawlessly, got some good rain/wet weather/mud experience, and set two new PBs. Not much more I could ask for. Very happy with the current balance of my setup, and frankly just how low maintenance the track prep has been (knock on wood).

[Will_]

Picked up some 17x9.5 ET40 Apex VS5-RS in anthracite from a friend. Will throw some 245 or 255 sticky tires on them to try and set some serious latpimes. Still going to keep the ARC-8s and Champiros on for awhile to compete in some 86Drive Challenge events, but will likely take them off and sell them in the summer. Not quite sure what’s next mod wise. Might do a good seat, maybe some aero, or a BBK. Or may have the car polished and ceramic coated. We shall see.