SARD MC8-R

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Since the custom rear chassis and numerous dedicated components will lead to significant differences from the original MR2, a homologation road car was to be constructed. SARD built two MC8 road cars in order to meet homologation requirements, a white car for 1995 and a black car for 1997. Both cars came with a detuned 1UZ-FE engine and featured a few differences such as a relocated exhaust pipe and modified road legal tires. For 1997, further aero changes were required, hence the construction of the black-colored road car that year.{{cite web |url=https://www.autopuzzles.com/forum/sports-cars/need-help-for-my-unknown-cars-and-unknown-year-cars/ |title=need help for my unknown cars and unknown year cars... |website=AutoPuzzles.com |date=2021-10-21 |access-date=2025-02-10}} While sporting different bodywork, it was mechanically similar to that of the 1995 car.https://scontent.fdxb3-4.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/339967435_1934860320219941_5185427527293479750_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=127cfc&_nc_ohc=clS5G0aF-2MQ7kNvgEqlnPC&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent.fdxb3-4.fna&_nc_gid=AdM1k6jQULmm5kKzXnlGxrw&oh=00_AYBJOFcNKF8qhWnFnODf38R3xN2t84UkYZo7OoYf7ByO8w&oe=67999BDA{{Dead link|date=March 2025}}

The 1995 car disappeared from the public eye within a year of its construction, but then resurfaced again on the Japanese collector car website SEiyaa in 2015, two decades after its disappearance.{{cite web|url=http://ichiba.geocities.jp/seiyaa_desk/sardmc8-seiyaaaz.html |title=１９９４ｙ サード ＭＣ８ ホモロゲｰション |trans-title=1994y SARD MC8 Homologation |language=ja |publisher=SEiyaa Thayer |date=2015-02-15 |access-date=2015-05-22 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150215171653/http://ichiba.geocities.jp/seiyaa_desk/sardmc8-seiyaaaz.html |archive-date=2015-02-15}} The car is currently in possession of a private collector as the listing has since been removed from SEiyaa, who has registered the car for road use in Japan.{{cite news|url=https://shakotantoday.com/home/2019/9/14/sard-mc8|title=The SARD MC8|date=15 September 2019|work=Shakotan Today|access-date=1 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200220134734/https://shakotantoday.com/home/2019/9/14/sard-mc8 |archive-date=2020-02-20 |url-status=dead}} After being seen at a few JGTC races in 1997 and 1998 as well as being featured in a few Japanese magazines, the 1997 car disappeared from the public eye not long afterwards and was last seen at a garage yard seemingly abandoned, with the car being mostly intact minus the powertrain.https://scontent.fdxb3-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/339107155_768520271369140_5913622898623833626_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=127cfc&_nc_ohc=eHJeBFTkaJkQ7kNvgGGVVf6&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent.fdxb3-1.fna&_nc_gid=AneeNBbtHjejUaADl5f0XVb&oh=00_AYDR_CLOJsDAQUqitDzJ4J3Dg6NgCwPk9De47lwYnMP-Qw&oe=67997C04{{Dead link|date=March 2025}}

{{anchor|1995|1997}}

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File:TWR WSC95 - Didier Theys, Michele Alboreto & Pierluigi Martini, SARD MC-8 - Alain Ferte, Pascal Fabre & Mauro Martini and Nissan Skyline GT-R LM on the run down from Dunlop Bridge to the Esses at the 1996 Le Mans (51716933887).jpg

• The MC8-R participated 1995 BPR Global GT Series which is the first purpose-built semi-sports-prototype that successfully got GT1 homologation which inspired 911 GT1 that kind of homologation specialists which planted a foreshadowing for the cancellation of GT1.{{citation needed|date=December 2022}}
• The MC8-R made its first outing in the 1995 24 Hours of Le Mans piloted by Alain Ferté, Kenny Acheson, and Tomiko Yoshikawa. It retired after 14 laps. Later that year the car attempted the 1000km Suzuka, this time managing to finish 26th overall.{{citation needed|date=December 2022}}
• One MC8-R was entered in the 1996 24 Hours of Le Mans, piloted by Masanori Sekiya, Hidetoshi Mitsusada, and Masami Kageyama. The team qualified 37th and finished 24th, the second-to-last team of those who had finished.{{citation needed|date=December 2022}}

• The team also entered the 1997 24 Hours of Le Mans, but driver Olivier Grouillard failed to make it past pre-qualifying.{{cite web |url=http://www.formula2.net/1997.htm |title=Le Mans Register – 1997 |publisher=Formula2.net |access-date=2010-10-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100611062656/http://www.formula2.net/1997.htm |archive-date=2010-06-11 |url-status=usurped}} Two cars were also entered in the FIA GT Championship round at the 1997 Suzuka 1000km (one by Team Menicon SARD and one entered by IDC Otsuka Kagu SARD), but neither car managed to finish.{{cn|date=March 2025}} It was replaced the following year with the Toyota GT-One.{{cn|date=March 2025}}

• Toyota MR2

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Category:Toyota in motorsport

Category:Toyota racing cars