Toyota’s V8 Supra Racer Revs Up for Supercars Championship: A Look at the High-Octane Future

Toyota is developing a Supra race car powered by a V8 engine

This engine is the same 5.0-liter used in the Lexus RC F

Currently, Toyota's street-legal Supra comes equipped with four and six-cylinder engines sourced from BMW. The racing version, specifically the GT4, also uses a straight-six engine from the German manufacturer. However, starting in 2026, Toyota's Australian division plans to introduce a large, in-house designed V8 engine. A naturally aspirated 5.0-liter engine will power a vehicle intended for the Repco Supercars Championship.

If you're familiar with Toyota engines by their internal code names, then you'll recognize the V8-Supra will be fitted with the 2UR-GSE, an aluminum engine that's been utilized across a range of products. It was previously used in the Lexus IS-F and GS-F, and continues to power the RC F, LC 500, and IS 500 F Sport, all of which boast a 5.0 engine. This same engine was also part of the Hilux pick-up's victory at the 2019 Dakar Rally.

Toyota has announced its commitment to compete in the Repco Supercars Championship for at least five years, following the introduction of the Gen3 regulations in 2023. The race-ready Supra will go head-to-head with the Ford Mustang, which boasts a Coyote 5.4-liter engine. Currently, Chevrolet teams are running a Camaro equipped with a 5.7-liter V8 engine. However, there's talk of a replacement in the works, as the production of the iconic muscle car is set to cease at the end of 2023.

Toyota plans to deploy at least four GR Supra race cars, with Chaz Mostert and Ryan Wood confirmed to pilot two of them for the Walkinshaw Andretti United team. The lineup for the second team has yet to be revealed. In a strategic move, starting from 2026, Walkinshaw Andretti United will transition from Ford Mustangs to Toyota Supras. Notably, the Walkinshaw Automotive Group has existing ties with Toyota, as it converts Tundra trucks to right-hand drive in Melbourne, Australia.

With Toyota joining in 2026, it will mark the first time since 2019 that the Repco Supercars Championship will feature three manufacturers. Over the last decade, brands like Volvo, Nissan, and Mercedes were also competitors before they eventually withdrew from the championship.

Additional Information on the Supra:

Source: Toyota

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