Nürburgring 24-hour debut for Toyota 86

Toyota has announced it will enter a pair of 86 sportscars, prepared by partner GAZOO racing, in next month’s 24 Hours Nürburgring endurance race. First held in 1970, the ADAC 24h Rennen Nürburgring, as it’s officially known, last year saw 700 participants in more than 200 cars include manufacturers such as Audi, BMW, Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz  and Porsche. The 2011 event also pushed the record to an impressive 156 laps of Nordschleife’s infamous 25.3km circuit. A fitting test for any newcomer, Toyota says it hopes the Nürburgring will “satisfy enthusiasts” as an in-house team of employees and mechanics push the 86s to their limits. It's a high-profile introduction to the world of motorsport for the Toyota 86, which will go on sale here in June, just a month after this year's race. The 40th running of the ADAC 24h Rennen Nürburgring will be held from May 17 to 20.