Just like Mazda, Japanese rival Toyota dedicated a model to Australia’s prestigious circuit Bathurst in naming its base MR2 variant after the legendary circuit.
First revealed in 1984 and gaining various plaudits during its inaugural five-year model run designated W10, the MR2 stepped up a gear for 1989 with a much rounder, futuristic shape leading to it being termed a ‘baby Ferrari’.
This updated W20 model featured a more luxurious and spacious cabin, larger engine sizes, sturdier transaxle in addition to a durable suspension set-up. Handling was worked on significantly courtesy of racing legend Dan Gurney, who spearheaded Toyota’s motorsport program in the US.
During its decade of production, the W20 underwent four updates throughout its lifespan mainly featuring small tweaks to the exterior and small developments to the mechanicals.
During the early 1990s, a Bathurst edition was made available after its successes at the Mountain. Although it was just an options pack featuring special badging.
So, why the name Bathurst?
Just like how the Mazda RX-7 dominated the Bathurst 12 Hour during the early 1990s, the same can be said about the MR2. Toyota may have taken the first race outright in 1991 courtesy of Peter Fitzgerald, Allan Grice and Nigel Arkell in a turbocharged Supra, a W20 MR2 was entered to win Class S.
This MR2 entered by motorsport legend Colin Bond, featuring Toyota stalwart John Smith and Bruce Stewart finished nine laps behind the leader, but was one of the models to impress in the race.
Entering 1992, the race built up significant momentum as a lockout 55-entries started the race including two W20 MR2s. There was mixed fortunes as the one driven by Geoff Morgan, Keith Carling and Rick Bates again won Class C, while the other retired featuring motor racing veteran Peter Hopwood, Calvin Gardiner and Peter Whitaker not far from the end.
Bates teamed up with motoring journalist Peter McKay and Juan Manuel Fangio II (nephew to the five-time World Drivers’ Championship winner) to again take Class C as the trio finished a remarkable sixth outright ahead of some exotic machinery. Another finished inside the top 10 as MR2s locked out the top three class results.
MR2s continued to dominate in the 12 Hour as Bates was joined by twin brother Neal as Fangio returned to again deliver another Class S victory as the second entry led by Smith sharing alongside Bargwanna cousins Jason and Scott finished a position behind to further stamp the model’s supremacy.
Success eluded the MR2 when the race moved to Eastern Creek as both entries retired, but it continued to be a reliable model for production car racing for the next decade.