Toyota to join Supercars with GR Supra

Toyota Australia is set to shake up the Repco Supercars Championship when it enters Australia’s premier motorsport category in 2026 with its GR Supra.

Toyota will field a minimum of four GEN3 GR Supras. Two will be run by Toyota’s homologation team partner Walkinshaw Andretti United with Supercars drivers Chaz Mostert and Ryan Wood behind the wheel.

The brand’s entry into the Supercars Championship significantly extends its commitment to supporting Australian motorsport that already includes its one-make grassroots Toyota Gazoo Racing Australia (TGRA) Scholarship Series and GR CUP, and the TGRA Rally Team alongside Neal Bates Motorsport, that currently leads the Australian Rally Championship.

Toyota Australia Vice President Sales, Marketing and Franchise Operations Sean Hanley said Toyota’s participation in Supercars was a dream come true that would provide both a showcase for its GR performance cars and an extended career opportunity for talented drivers and the design and engineering crews that support them.

“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,” Mr Hanley said.

“This is truly an historic moment!

“Our GR brand and performance cars were built on the knowledge that we gain from participating in top-level motorsport and our entry into the Supercars Championship will cement that connection and give us the opportunity to showcase Toyota Gazoo Racing excitement to a wide audience of passionate fans,” Mr Hanley said.

Repco Supercars Championship CEO Shane Howard said he welcomed Toyota’s announcement that would bring a new level of competition to Australia’s premier motorsport category.

“This is a landmark moment for Supercars, solidifying an iconic global automotive brand on our grid from 2026,” Howard said.

“It’s a testament to the immense popularity and international appeal of our sport that a powerhouse like Toyota has chosen to join our grid.”

As a team that brings together support from some of the biggest names in global motorsport, Walkinshaw Andretti United (WAU) has a long and successful history in Supercars with seven Bathurst 1000 wins, six Drivers Championships, and 191 Championship race wins.

Team directors Ryan Walkinshaw, Zak Brown and Michael Andretti said they were thrilled to partner with Toyota as its homologation team and build on the growing partnership.

“To announce our future with Toyota Australia, as it enters the Supercars Championship from 2026, is a fantastic honour and privilege for everyone at Walkinshaw Andretti United,” WAU Director Ryan Walkinshaw said.

Zak Brown, Director of WAU and CEO of United Autosports added: “Today is a huge day for Walkinshaw Andretti United and for Supercars, and we are delighted to be partnering with Toyota Australia as it enters the sport in 2026.

“To have a third OEM enter into Supercars shows the strength of the sport now and into the future, and it’s going to be pretty special to see all three manufacturers battle it out.”

The GR Supra will use Toyota’s 2UR-GSE all-aluminium, quad-cam V8 that has featured in a range of performance production cars, as well as the 2019 Dakar-winning HiLux, as its baseline engine.

Toyota is committed to racing in the Supercars Championship for five years.

Further details on the racecar will be announced in due course.