10/05/2005 Torrance, CA

Toyota Motorsports and Scion announced today the Scion tC sports coupe will be the new official vehicle of the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race. The 2006 Pro/Celebrity Race celebrates the 30th anniversary of this charity event held annually as part of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach Race weekend. It also marks the first time in the race’s history that a vehicle other than Celica will be featured.

"Being such an integral part of the Pro/Celebrity race and the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach is a great opportunity for Scion and the tC," said Mark Templin, vice president, Scion. "The tC will be right at home and able to showcase its performance capabilities on the historic street course."

The race-ready, identically-prepared tCs will produce 170-horsepower at 5,700 rpm. They will be equipped with performance enhancements that include a DC Sports stainless steel exhaust and ceramic header, Centerforce single-disc racing clutch, Progress Technology racing coil-over shocks and springs, Stop-Tech brakes and full roll cage.

"The Scion tC sports coupes are being prepared to debut in time to celebrate the anniversary of one of America’s favorite motorsports events," said Les Unger, Toyota national motorsports manager. "The 2006 Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race will feature race-ready Scion tCs in which celebrities will compete for a chance at year-long bragging rights and charity donations made on their behalf. In addition, we are pleased to have recently announced an extension of our title sponsorship of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach through 2010."

The Toyota Pro/Celebrity race has evolved into one of the longest-running, corporate sponsored events of its kind, pitting celebrities from music, sports, television and film against professional drivers. The event benefits "Racing for Kids," a non-profit, national fund-raising program that supports children’s hospitals throughout the United States.

Toyota will donate monies, on behalf of each Pro/Celebrity driver, to "Racing for Kids," including additional funds to the race winner’s charity of choice. All funding will benefit two hospitals in Southern California, Miller Children’s Hospital of Long Beach and Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC). In conjunction with the ninth annual "People Pole Award" sponsored by People magazine, an additional donation will be made to the pole winner’s preferred charity. Since 1991, Toyota Motorsports has donated more than $1.3 million to children’s charity organizations.

The race will be held Saturday, April 8, 2006 on the 1.97 mile, 11-turn street course in downtown Long Beach, Calif., as part of the 32nd Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. An all-new Toyota Pro/Celeb Scion tC is currently on display at the California International Auto Show in Anaheim, Calif.


TOYOTA PRO/CELEB SCION tC PRELIMINARY SPECIFICATIONS
NOTE: ** Denotes equipment not yet installed on display vehicle
ENGINE
Type: Four-cylinder, Twin Cam, 16-Valve VVT-i
Displacement: 2.4 Liters Power: 170 hp @ 5,700 rpm
Induction: Multi-port EFI Bore: 88.5 mm
Stroke: 96 mm Compression Ratio: 9.6:1
Fuel: F&L racing fuel 100 octane unleaded
Intake: **AEM cold air intake
Exhaust: DC Sports stainless steel exhaust and ceramic coated race header
Motor oil: Redline 15W50 synthetic

DRIVE TRAIN
Transmission: Five-speed manual, front-wheel drive
W/ Redline MTL synthetic transmission fluid
Clutch: Centerforce single disc racing clutch

CHASSIS/BODY
Chassis: Unibody with DC Sports carbon steel
strut tower brace
Body: Scion tC
Steering: Rack & pinion
Graphics: Vinyl graphics by Molly Designs
Aero Package: Kaminari

SUSPENSION
Type: Four-wheel independent
Front: MacPherson Strut with Progress Technology racing
coil-over shocks and springs
Rear: Double Wishbone, with Progress Technology racing
coil-over shocks and springs

WHEELS AND TIRES
Wheels: BBS 17" x 7 1/2"
Tires: Bridgestone Potenza RE01R, 225x45x17
Brakes: Power-assisted four-wheel disc with ABS,
Stop-Tech front brakes and Hawk Performance brake pads

ADDITIONAL FEATURES
Safety: **Full roll cage, five-point seatbelts, Competition shock
absorbers, springs, exhaust system, clutch and brakes,
**On-Board Fire System; window net

DIMENSIONS
Race Weight: 2,881 Lbs.
Wheel Base: 106.3 Inches
Wheel Travel: 5.3 Inches
Overall Length: 174 Inches
Overall Width: 69.1 Inches
Overall Height: 53.2 Inches
Ground Clearance: 3.8 Inches
Track Width:
Front 59.3 Inches
Rear 59.3 Inches
Fuel Capacity: 14.5 Gallons








Credit: Toyota Motorsports

 

The death of the legendary Toyota Celica...but then again this car was always rumored to be the Celica replacement. tC = Toyota Celica.

 

sigh...

i applied for a job at Stoptech once. (HQ like 5 minutes from my house)


nothing really came out of it . but hey.

 

I always loved that Celica racing car. But the tC looks great pictured here.

 

don't like the idea as much, because the cars will be slower, hopefully they supercharge them

 

Well it was the natural progression of things. The Pro/Celebrity race always used Celicas and that's what a Scion tC really is IMO. Just marketed under Scion since Toyota's aren't very "hip" with the Gen Y'ers apparently.

Think about it: Small FWD Toyota coupe with a Camry drivetrain. That's been the Celica Formula since 1986 (20 years) and that's exactly what the tC is.

The Celica never died. It just got a small name change.

 

and they're not using the supercharged models why?

 

Haha. The Celica name is axed so it is technically dead since the Scion tC is only available to the North American market, whereas the Celica has been marketed in different regions of the world. The Scion tC could be considered as the 8th Gen Celica but this is no more:

RIP Celica 1971-2005

 

This race was never really about speed. Remember some of the racers are celebs, not professional race car drivers. Would you give Melissa Joan Hart or Lil' Kim an overpowered FWD car and put them on a track together with more celebs? I remember reading about crashes even with the stockish powered Celicas.

It's really a charity event so actual speeds and who wins doesn't matter too much. The point is to raise money for good causes. Besides, the Celica's they've been using all these years have always been mostly stock with mild power/handling mods and safety mods getting the highest priority.

 

damn that's one mean looking tC.

 

I usually catch the recap of this race on either ESPN or ABCSPORTS. While some of these celebrities can actually drive, ie Jason Priestly, the majority only take a crash course in race driving just prior to the race. In any event crashes abound, even at stock power levels. But you would be surprised how much fun it is going around a closed race circuit, even with stock power!!

 

Watching the race in person is definitely an experience. I remember the year when Alfonso Ribiero (Carlton of Fresh Prince) won a race...and waving over to the likes of Danica Patrick, Karl Malone and a few others throughout the years. If you guys can come out to Long Beach to experience their driving, it' s pretty interesting sometimes haha.

 

Hey - you don't live too far from me then... your in Torrance, PV or RB (otherwise it's farther than 5 min. away)

 

That's awesome, looks like 1-2 of my friends might have a chance to drive in this years race.

 

Thanks for the news, sweet deal. RIP Celica!!!