Toyota will be a part of the Supercars grid in 2026, asserting on Wednesday that it’ll associate with Walkinshaw Andretti United to race the GR Supra within the collection.
There can be 4 of the Japanese coupes on the grid, two with WAU, which is presently working a pair of Ford Mustangs for Chaz Mostert and Ryan Wooden, and two with a group to be introduced.
The long-time market chief in Australia, Toyota has made a five-year dedication to the class, so will race in opposition to a grid of Mustangs and Chevrolet Camaros till at the least 2030.
Improvement of the brand new automobile is already underway at Toyota Australia’s Melbourne base. The automobile will function an engine primarily based on the 2UR-GSE – an all aluminium, quad cam V8 – fairly than the in-line six cylinder motor that comes fitted to the road-going Supra fashions.
“At Toyota, we’ve got been toying with the thought of competing in Supercars for greater than 20 years and now with the precise automobile, the precise group, and a really robust partnership with the Supercars Championship, the time is certainly proper,” stated Sean Hanley, Toyota Australia Vice President of gross sales and advertising and marketing.
“That is actually an historic second. Our GR model and efficiency vehicles had been constructed on the data that we achieve from collaborating in top-level motorsport and our entry into the Supercars Championship will cement that connection and provides us the chance to showcase TOYOTA GAZOO Racing pleasure to a large viewers of passionate followers.”
Supercars CEO Shane Howard stated that Toyota’s announcement was “an unbelievable honour”.
WAU will turn out to be the homologation group for Toyota, in a lot the identical was as Dick Johnson Racing does with Ford and Triple Eights does with Chevrolet.
Chaz Mostert, Walkinshaw Andretti United Ford Mustang GT
Picture by: Edge Photographics
The Walkinshaw Group already has a hyperlink with Toyota, changing US-built Tundra pickups to right-hand-drive at its Melbourne base.
“To announce our future with Toyota Australia, because it enters the Supercars Championship from 2026, is a implausible honour and privilege for everybody at Walkinshaw Andretti United,” group director Ryan Walkinshaw stated.
“We’ve developed a implausible relationship with Toyota Australia by way of the Walkinshaw Group, and we’re delighted to increase that partnership into Walkinshaw Andretti United – we will’t wait to share success collectively in 2026 and past.”
The introduction of Toyota will imply that Supercars may have greater than two producers for the primary time since 2019.
Volvo joined the grid for 3 seasons, in 2014 to 2017, whereas Nissan competed with Altima sedans between 2013 and 2019. Mercedes-Benz additionally featured on the grid on a buyer foundation, with Erebus Motorsport racing a pair of E Class sedans between 2013 and 2015.
Toyota is already engaged within the Supercars Championship by way of its Toyota GR Cup Australia one-make collection, which options massive grids of 86 sportscars, and likewise competes within the Australian Rally Championship with Neal Bates Motorsport.
