{"id":860431,"date":"2026-08-19T05:04:14","date_gmt":"2026-08-19T05:04:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/860431\/"},"modified":"2026-08-19T05:04:14","modified_gmt":"2026-08-19T05:04:14","slug":"supercars-news-ryan-wood-says-new-grf-70-like-a-baby-f1-car","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/860431\/","title":{"rendered":"Supercars news: Ryan Wood says new GRF-70 \u2018like a baby F1 car\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\u2018Like\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe new Gazoo Racing New Zealand GRF-70 on track at Hampton Downs. Image: Andy Kruy <\/p>\n

Built to the second-generation Formula Regional regulations, the car uses a Tatuus T-326 carbon chassis.<\/p>\n

The GRF-70 is the fourth model that the series has used in its more than 20 years and is the first not to feature the \u2018FT\u2019 prefix.<\/p>\n

The move to the \u2018GRF\u2019 prefix signifies Toyota\u2019s move to make the Gazoo Racing brand its own standalone entity as part of a broader shift globally.<\/p>\n

The GRF-70 will be used in the upcoming four-round Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy in 2027.<\/p>\n

Wood, who raced the FT-60 earlier this year, hailed the new single-seater a step up.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s like a baby F1 car,\u201d said Ryan Wood on MotorSport New Zealand\u2019s Inside Line.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a really cool upgrade for the team here at Toyota and I\u2019m sure they\u2019re really excited moving into the back half of this year into next year with CTFROT.\u201d<\/p>\n

The car features an all-new steering wheel, which the Kiwi said would be a welcome change.<\/p>\n

Suspension geometry changes also mean there is less effort required to turn the wheel.<\/p>\n

\u201cFirst thing\u2019s first, the steering wheel is simplified. It\u2019s also probably more high-tech,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n

\u201cEverything from the buttons \u2013 it\u2019s push and hold now, so that you can\u2019t accidentally knock a button.<\/p>\n

\u201cI remember here when I was racing the FT-60 I knocked the pit limiter at the hairpin, so you can\u2019t do that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The new Gazoo Racing New Zealand GRF-70. Image: Andy Kruy<\/p>\n

Driver comfort is chief among the changes between models. Wood noted the chassis was far more accommodating.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe cockpit is probably a bit more spacious for your taller and bigger boys,\u201d said Wood.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think that\u2019s a really, really good factor. A guy like Ugo [Ugochukwu] last year, I don\u2019t know how he fit into the FT-60.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow there\u2019s a lot more space. That is a very good thing for driver comfort.\u201d<\/p>\n

The GRF-70 retains its homegrown 2.0\u2011litre turbocharged Toyota 8AR\u2011FTS making 285hp (212kW) that was used in the FT-60.<\/p>\n

The updated engine is coupled to a Sadev SL-R 82 six-speed gearbox with a limited-slip differential.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe power delivery feels really, really good and clean,\u201d said Wood.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe balance of the car, you can start to lean on it and play with it a bit more.<\/p>\n

\u201cEven things like the braking, the brake bias migration is probably a bit more consistent as well.<\/p>\n

\u201cEverything like that is a really, really good step forward. The overall feeling in the car feels new.\u201d<\/p>\n

Next year\u2019s championship will feature a maximum of 22 cars run by M2 Competition, mtec Motorsport, Kiwi Motorsport, Hitech GP, TJ Speed Motorsport and Rodin Motorsport.<\/p>\n

The summer series begins in the North Island at Hampton Downs on January 8-10 before heading to Taupo on January 15-17.<\/p>\n

The South Island hosts the penultimate and final rounds, beginning at Teretonga on January 22-24 and closing out with the New Zealand Grand Prix at Highlands on January 29-31.<\/p>\n

Winning the championship earns six points towards an FIA Super Licence. Points are awarded down to sixth.<\/p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The new Gazoo Racing New Zealand GRF-70 on track at Hampton Downs. Image: Andy Kruy Built to the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":860432,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[573],"tags":[64,63,817,813,816,40248,85],"class_list":["post-860431","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-formula-1","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-f1","tag-formula-1","tag-formula1","tag-ryan-wood","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/860431","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=860431"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/860431\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/860432"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=860431"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=860431"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=860431"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}