Toyota Gazoo Racing confirmed today that it will launch the GT4 race car for
customer teams in 2020. The automaker’s motorsport division said the announcement “comes in
response to growing customer expectations worldwide following the unveiling of
the GR Supra GT4 Concept at the Geneva International Motor Show in March, and
the participation of the GR Supra at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring in June.”
This is obviously great news for the nameplate as
racing is what gives a sports car credibility and the new Supra with its BMW
DNA needs that. Furthermore, Toyota Gazoo Racing says the Supra GT4 will help
it develop “ever-better cars using the feedback gained through race
participation.”
Based on the road-going model, the GR Supra GT4 is
developed and produced by Toyota Motorsport GmbH. Toyota Gazoo Racing will
collaborate with three partners to develop the new customer race car: Ravenol,
Pirelli and Akrapovič. Ravenol will provide lubricants, Pirelli will be the
tire development partner, and Akrapovič will help with developing motorsport-specific
exhaust systems.
The Supra GT4 features a steel body with a
high-strength roll cage, while the front diffuser and rear wing are made from
natural fiber composite. Power comes from the BMW-supplied turbocharged
3.0-liter straight-six engine, though the exact output has not been announced
yet. The power plant is mated to an automatic transmission that drives the rear
wheels. As with the Supra road car, the GT4 version features a MacPherson
strut front suspension and multilink rear suspension, while the steering is
electrically assisted and of the rack and pinion type. The wheels are 11 x 18
inches and feature five lug nuts each.
Styling-wise, the Supra GT4 looks pretty much
identical on the outside to the race car that competed in the Nürburgring 24
Hours last month. Compared to the GR Supra GT4 Concept, there are some subtle
exterior differences, while the interior is totally different. The conventional
steering wheel is replaced by a butterfly steering wheel while the stock
dashboard is also ditched for a more minimalist carbon fiber unit that looks
very raw.
More details about the Supra GT4, including pricing,
markets, and release date, will be announced later this year. The car will be
eligible for a variety of championships around the world, including the Super
Taikyu Series in Japan, the GT4 European Series and the VLN Endurance
Championship Nürburgring in Europe, and the Michelin Pilot Challenge Series in
the United States.