Toyota’s next-generation GT3 race automobile will make its competitors debut in 2026 within the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), timed with the disclosing of a road-car counterpart, in response to Motorsport.com.

The race automobile, primarily based on the Toyota GR GT3 idea proven on the 2022 Tokyo auto salon, was initially scheduled to start racing in 2025, in response to the report, which cites feedback from Toyota WEC staff director Rob Leupen. However delays for the highway automobile that might be primarily based on the race automobile meant that needed to be pushed again.

Toyota GR GT3 idea

The Lexus RC F is at the moment homologated for the GT3 class, however the GR GT3 idea offered a powerful trace that Japan’s largest automaker was planning to re-up in GT3. Patent drawings that surfaced just a few months after the idea’s debut have been an extra trace that Toyota was transferring forward with manufacturing of the GR GT3.

The GT3 class requires to be primarily based on road-going variations, so a it was inevitable that the GR GT3, which is not primarily based on any present Toyota mannequin, would spawn a highway automobile as effectively. That highway automobile may very well be badged as a Lexus, permitting the GR GT3 to take over for the ageing RC F. Lexus has additionally proven an electrical supercar idea with proportions similar to these of the GR GT3.

Toyota GR GT3 idea

As for why the GR GT3 is not primarily based on one of many automaker’s present platforms, Toyota beforehand mentioned it allowed engineers check out new applied sciences for potential use in different road-car and racing packages.

Toyota already provides a Supra GT4 buyer race automobile, in addition to Supra-badged race vehicles for Japan’s Tremendous GT touring automobile collection. It nonetheless competes within the WEC’s LeMans Hypercar (LMH) prototype class as effectively. So the brand new GT3 race automobile will fill within the hole between the lower-level GT4 and touring-car lessons and the prototypes, giving Toyota an entry at almost each stage of sports-car racing.