A precursor to Toyota’s Camry Sportivo of the mid-2000s, the Japanese manufacturer celebrated a little-known success with a limited edition model.
Although Toyota’s participation in the Australian Touring Car Championship ended in 1993, the marque was a popular choice in production car racing using the Supra, Celica, Corolla and oddly, the Camry family Sedan.
Former Formula Ford racer David Ratcliffe spearheaded the Camry program in PROCAR Australia’s burgeoning GT-Production Championship featuring marques such as Porsche, Ferrari, Ford, Holden, Subaru, Mitsubishi, Mazda, BMW and more.
The Camry slotted into Class C for Production Cars Over 2500cc pitching it up against Holden’s VT Commodore SS, the Ford Falcon XR6 and a Mitsubishi TE Magna.
Featuring support from Toyota racing alumni Mike Quinn and his Phoenix Motorsport operation, which also contested the Australian Super Touring Championship in a Dave Cook Racing-built Camry raced in South Africa, Ratcliffe’s production version was a weapon.
It took Class C honours in the 1998 Australian GT-Production Car Championship and at the Century Batteries Three Hour Bathurst Showroom Showdown to complete a sweep.
Although Toyota provided minimum support to the program, these successes let to a special edition Camry named the GTP through an option package as detailed here.
Unique in its appearance due to its motorsport-inspired bodykit featuring lower front air dam, wider wheel arches, side and rear skirts, plus a tall rear spoiler.
GTP badging was also available as the 17”x7” alloy wheels added to the subtle, yet sporty appearance.
Also available was a carbon-fibre dashboard kit to further hint of the racing pedigree of the Camry and for owners of the manual version was the leather sports gearshift, with embroidered floor mats completing the package.
The options package was designed to add motor racing style and performance handling to the Camry Touring in recognition of model’s success in GT-Production racing.
Post-1998, Ratcliffe and the Camry was defeated in 1999 as the increased competition in Class C was realised by the upgraded VT Commodore SS and AU Falcon XR8 was introduced.
However, in 2001 a class re-allocation to D alongside the other six-cylinder vehicles provided an exciting battle between Toyota, Mitsubishi and Ford. Now in the hands of Alan Holgersson, the Camry was quick as he scored second in Class D and at Bathurst.
This proved the last appearance of the Camry until this year’s Hi-Tec Oils Bathurst 12 Hour when it made a triumphant return and gained a cult following due to 710 Motorsport’s social media coverage.