The Toyota Supra, an icon in the realm of Japanese sports cars, is renowned for its performance and tuning capabilities, largely thanks to the legendary 2JZ-GTE inline-six engine in its MkIV iteration. After a hiatus, the Supra returned in its fifth generation, sharing its platform with the BMW Z4 and featuring BMW-sourced inline-six engines. However, Toyota is now breaking tradition and embracing V8 power for its racing endeavors.
While you can’t find a V8 Supra at your local dealership, Toyota’s Australian division has announced a significant shift: the GR Supra will compete in the fiercely contested Repco Supercars Championship starting in 2026. This move is particularly noteworthy because, unlike its road-going counterparts, the Supercars Supra will be powered by a naturally aspirated V8 engine, aligning with the engine configuration of its rivals in the championship.
Decoding the Repco Supercars Championship
Formerly known as the Australian Touring Car Championship, the Repco Supercars Championship has evolved from a single race to a high-stakes series. These races are held across major Australian cities and feature the grueling Bathurst 1000 event, scheduled for October 9-13.
Currently, the championship sees a battle between the Chevrolet Camaro and the Ford Mustang. However, in 2026, Toyota will inject four GR Supras into the competition, spearheaded by Walkinshaw Andretti United (WAU), Toyota’s homologation partner. WAU will field seasoned drivers Chaz Mostert and Ryan Wood. Interestingly, WAU’s ties with Toyota extend beyond racing, as they also convert North American left-hand drive Toyota Tundras to right-hand drive at their Melbourne facility.
Supra’s V8 Heart: Embracing Eight Cylinders for Racing
To ensure a level playing field, Supercars Championship vehicles adhere to a minimum weight of 2,943 pounds and exclusively utilize V8 engines. Ford’s Mustang employs a 5.4-liter aluminum block Coyote V8, while the Camaro features a 5.7-liter single-cam V8, both generating around 600 horsepower.
The GR Supra will adopt the familiar 5.0-liter 2UR-GSE naturally aspirated, all-aluminum, quad-cam V8 engine. This robust V8 is no stranger to performance, having powered models like the Lexus LC500 and RC-F. It even propelled a Toyota Hilux to victory in the 2019 Dakar Rally, demonstrating its reliability and power. While exact specifications for the Supercars engine are pending, performance figures are expected to mirror its competitors.
More Than Just a Supra Body: A Purpose-Built Race Car
The Supercars GR Supra is not a modified production car. Instead, it’s a bespoke build centered around a class-specific chromoly tubular chassis extending throughout the vehicle’s structure. The front and rear sections are designed for easy replacement after collisions, a common occurrence in racing. These precision-welded sections are exceptionally rigid, allowing optimal engine placement for performance, accommodating the Toyota 2UR-GSE V8 perfectly.
Body panels shaped to resemble the GR Supra cover this chassis, albeit with necessary modifications for racing. Even the polycarbonate laminate windshield, equipped with a heated filament for defogging and costing around $7,000, is a specialized racing component. These high-end parts contribute to the substantial cost of a new Gen3 Supercars build, exceeding $600,000.
A Glimpse into the Supercars Supra Design
Although the final Supercars Supra is still under development, Toyota unveiled a clay model alongside digital renderings, providing a preview of its design direction. While instantly recognizable as a GR Supra, closer inspection reveals distinct racing enhancements.
The hood features prominent creases leading to the bumper’s center, with a lowered central section near the windshield. The front bumper is lower, incorporating larger side ducts and a pronounced splitter. A substantial rear wing sits atop sweeping pedestals. Exhaust finishers are positioned below the car’s left flank. Notably, Gen3 racers underwent aerodynamic revisions in 2023, reducing downforce by over 65% to emphasize driver skill and enhance overtaking opportunities.
Toyota’s racing pedigree is extensive, encompassing participation in the World Endurance Championship, World Rally Championship, Dakar Rally victory, NASCAR with the Camry, and various GT and rally events globally. This Supercars venture is a long-term commitment, with Toyota pledging five years of participation with a four-car lineup.
Sean Hanley, Vice President of Sales, Marketing, and Franchise Operations at Toyota Australia, emphasized the significance of this move: “At Toyota, we have been toying with the idea of competing in Supercars for more than 20 years and now with the right car, the right team, and a very strong partnership with the Repco Supercars Championship, the time is definitely right.” The introduction of the Supra V8 Engine to the Supercars Championship marks an exciting new chapter for Toyota and motorsport enthusiasts alike.
