With today being the 8th of June (8th day of the 6th month), and next weekend being the 86th running of the Le Mans 24 Hours, Toyota GB has liveried up three Toyota GT86s in heritage colours, in a nod to three of the Japanese marque’s most iconic cars from its lengthy history competing at La Sarthe.

“The GT86 gives us a great canvas on which to pay tribute to some of the amazing Toyota race cars that have thrilled the crowds at Le Mans,” James Clark, Toyota GB Press Relations Manager, said.

“Response to our earlier retro-liveried coupes was fantastic and we hope these new cars – all strictly one-off creations – will generate the same kind of enthusiasm as we approach this year’s 24-hour race.”

Race-goers might spot the cars at Le Mans next week on their public debut. Then, after that, they will be joining Toyota’s UK press and heritage fleet to make special appearances at events across the country this summer.

The first (below, middle) in the new series pays tribute to the Toyota TS010 of 1992, which was powered by a Formula 1-style 3.5-litre V10 engine capable of producing up to 700bhp.

Next comes the 1998 TS020, or GT-One (above, right), a pure-bred Le Mans car that proved exceptional in qualifying and a record-breaker in the heat of competition.

Completing the trio is a GT86 inspired by the TS050 Hybrid, which came heartbreakingly close to winning Le Mans in 2016 (above, left).

The cars are fitted with high-level Toyota accessory rear spoilers, in a nod to the high-downforce aero packages featured on the race cars.

Photos courtesy of Toyota GB