Toyota will be part of the Supercars grid in 2026, saying 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 at the moment working a pair of Ford Mustangs for Chaz Mostert and Ryan Wooden, and two with a crew 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.
Growth of the brand new automotive is already underway at Toyota Australia’s Melbourne base. The automotive will function an engine based mostly 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 now have been toying with the concept of competing in Supercars for greater than 20 years and now with the fitting automotive, the fitting crew, and a really sturdy partnership with the Supercars Championship, the time is unquestionably proper,” mentioned Sean Hanley, Toyota Australia Vice President of gross sales and advertising.
“That is actually an historic second. Our GR model and efficiency vehicles have been constructed on the data that we acquire from taking part 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 mentioned that Toyota’s announcement was “an unbelievable honour”.
WAU will grow to be the homologation crew 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 unbelievable honour and privilege for everybody at Walkinshaw Andretti United,” crew director Ryan Walkinshaw mentioned.
“We’ve developed a unbelievable relationship with Toyota Australia via 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 could 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 via its Toyota GR Cup Australia one-make collection, which options massive grids of 86 sportscars, and in addition competes within the Australian Rally Championship with Neal Bates Motorsport.
