Toyota Celica GT4 outsprints F1 cars to become the fastest car at Goodwood 2011

Here’s an underdog story to warm your heart in these otherwise soggy, rain-soaked days. Apparently, this 880hp Toyota Celica took just 48.07 seconds to knock the socks off F1 cars at Goodwood 2011. Driven by Johnny Milner, a former British Rally Champion, the vehicle managed the giant-killing act with more than a few car lengths to become the fastest car.

Toyota Celica at Goodwood

Picture Gallery

Toyota Celica at Goodwood

Powered by 800bhp engine and driven by former British Rally Champion, Johnny Milner, Toyota Celica beat F1 cars to become the fastest car at Goodwood 2011.

The car is powered by a 16-valve, four-cylinder 2.0 Corolla WRC that outputs 1,998cc (597kW) thanks to a Garrett GT35/42 Turbocharger and a belt-driven Rotrex Supercharger. With a compression ratio of 9.7:1, the Celia displaces 5,700rpm at 2bar boost while a nitrous oxide injection system allows the Toyota to decrease the lag at the starting line. Mactrack 5-speed manual Transmission with triple-plate clutch from Fensport also improved handling for the machine on the racetrack.

Standing in at 1050kg, the ultra-lightweight GT4 is a 6th gen Celica although it had the driver’s seat pushed back around 12 inches to improve overall weight distribution.

The wheel arches and suspension mounts were raised to further lower the vehicle’s center of gravity. But the car’s spectacular time has less to do with tech specs because let's face it, the F1-specific cars it outran probably were better equipped to handle the track. So should we really be lauding the driver for the performance? Sure, but that wouldn’t make this story half as fun now, would it?

Via CarAdvice