Toyota is has brought a new concept car to the Geneva
Motor Show that previews the Supra GT4 race car, and a racer for
private customers too. Despite being billed as a study, it’s fairly obvious
that the GT4 customer racer will look exactly like this. The Toyota GR Supra
GT4 Concept brings nothing we haven’t already seen when
the race car prototype got spied last year at the Nürburgring Nordschleife. The
main difference is now we get to see a racing livery where the camouflage foil
used to be.
Gazoo Racing says the GR Supra GT4 Concept is based
on the road-going GR Supra and was developed by Toyota Motorsport GmbH with the
goal of exploring “the possibility of using the GR Supra in customer
motorsports such as privateer racing.” It's designed
for the GT4 racing class, one of the world’s fastest-growing motorsports
categories that includes national and regional competitions in Europe, North
America, Asia, and Oceania. The popular series include the GT4 European Series,
IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, and Blancpain GT World Challenge Asia.
Compared to the production version, the GT4 is even
lighter, although Toyota hasn’t provided any specifics yet. It’s also equipped
with racing suspension and brakes, as well as a motorsport aero kit that
includes a sizable front splitter and massive rear wing, among other parts.
Obviously, it comes with a roll cage, racing seats, and all the other safety
features necessary for racing.
The Supra GT4 will enter the Nurburgring 24
Endurance Race in the SP8T class this year. For 2020, Toyota will develop
another Supra race car that will compete in Japan’s Super GT series’ GT500
class. Toyota says it will continue to explore and expand the involvement of
the Supra in motorsports “as well as leverage the learning and know-how
garnered as it looks to develop ever-better-cars.”
