You’ll assume the Toyota model doesn’t want any extra publicity in Australia, however the Japanese big says it sees a possibility in getting into the Supercars Championship to assist it promote its merchandise.
The Toyota badge has by no means been seen on the grid within the Supercars Championship, and has been absent from its forebear since 1993.
That may change in 2026, when it brings a V8-powered model of the Supra to the grid, taking over the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro with historic outfit Walkinshaw Andretti United (WAU) steering the ship.
Not since 1993 have Toyotas raced in what was then referred to as the Australian Touring Automobile Championship (ATCC), with the model focusing its current racing efforts on the Australian Rally Championship (with the GR Yaris) and the GR Cup, the place future stars compete in an identical GR86s.
It was final actually all in favour of becoming a member of the-then V8 Supercars collection in 2000 with the brand new Avalon, however determined to not pit its new sedan towards the VT Commodore and AU Falcon of the time.
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Quick ahead to 2024, Toyota is delivering near-record numbers of automobiles and outsells its next-closest rival by greater than two-to-one.
You’d be forgiven for asking why it now desires to go racing on Australia’s largest stage, however the reply is straightforward: it desires to promote its Gazoo Racing (GR) branded sports activities vehicles.
“GR, there’s nothing greater than that. It simply introduced,” mentioned Sean Hanley, Toyota Australia vp of gross sales and advertising and marketing.
“Once we began promoting the GR Yaris then the GR Corolla and the GR Sport (HiLux), GR simply obtained traction and it reminded us at Toyota [that] regardless of all the things happening on this planet proper now, there’s nonetheless a fanbase on the market for efficiency vehicles.
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The 2024 Toyota GR Cup area
“Individuals nonetheless need them now. They could change sooner or later, they usually might take totally different shapes. Even Supercars has developed – it’s totally different than what it was with the tribalism 20 years in the past.
“However we noticed a possibility to actually stamp Toyota’s credentials once more on motorsport in Australia. We wish to present the world, we wish to present Australia, we will really do that. We is usually a aggressive participant on this house.
“We do an incredible job in all the opposite merchandise, however we’ve solely been out there for a small period of time with GR, and now we wish to exhibit to the world it is a honest dinkum racing and efficiency model.”
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GR Yaris within the Australian Rally Championship
There’s a broader attraction to Toyota’s Supercars berth although, with 1000’s of followers who attend every occasion – and within the case of the Bathurst 1000, tens of 1000’s – arriving there in vehicles and probably looking out for an additional.
“One more reason we’re drawn to Supercars is that it appeals to Australia’s heartland. As such, it’s going to expose Toyota’s ardour and our pleasure to extra Australians than ever earlier than,” Mr Hanley mentioned.
“Supercars followers are likely to go to a race monitor and spend numerous time there. That makes it superb as a touring motor present, enabling us to advertise our broad vary of automobiles and actually have interaction with the gang.
“As we all know, it is a driver-orientated sport. So if among the nation’s greatest steerers are driving our automotive, then persons are going to help us. That’s going to convey lots of people into Toyota dealerships, individuals who don’t usually go there.
“Lastly, however basic to our determination, Supercars is a perfect showcase for our GR (Gazoo Racing) vary. These are fun-to-drive sports activities vehicles that resonate with a very passionate fan base.
“They’re filled with Toyota’s newest applied sciences, gained from a six-decade historical past in motorsport. Importantly, the information discovered on monitor can be used to enhance all different Toyota automobiles you see on our roads each different day.
“We race, we be taught, our clients in the end win.”
When Toyota takes to the grid in 2026 – at the least with WAU, and presumably with one other workforce if it will get its method – it’ll achieve this with the Supra, that includes a 5.0-litre V8 somewhat than its BMW-sourced turbocharged 3.0-litre six-cylinder underneath the bonnet.
We’ve seen producers run fashions in Supercars earlier than with drivetrains not obtainable within the highway automotive.
The front-wheel drive Nissan Altima went rear-wheel drive with the V8 from a Patrol from 2013 to 2019, and the Volvo S60 Polestar raced with a V8 primarily based on that within the XC90.
Even now, the Mustang and Camaro that are competing for the title function totally different engine capacities to what’s been in showrooms, with the latter mannequin off sale in Australia for years earlier than it even went racing.
What Toyota is hoping for is to get much more model publicity along with what it at the moment achieves by way of sponsoring the AFL, Adelaide Crows, North Queensland Cowboys and Cricket Australia.
