New GR Supra Supercars will go up against Camaro and Mustang Supercars race cars

Toyota is developing a Supra equipped with a V-8 engine, but the car isn't bound for showrooms.

Instead it will tear up racetracks all around Australia as the latest entry to the popular Australia Supercars touring car series, where it will go up against similar race cars based on the Chevrolet Camaro and Ford Mustang.

The series, previously known as V8 Supercars, was dominated for years by Ford and Holden, however a relaxing of the rules allowed more brands to enter and over the years Mercedes-Benz AMG, Nissan, and Volvo have all been represented.

Toyota on Wednesday said it will enter the series in 2026 as part of a five-year commitment. It will initially enter four of the new GR Supra Supercars race cars. Two will to be run by current team and homologation partner Walkinshaw Andretti United, with drivers Chaz Mostert and Ryan Wood. A second team fielding an additional two cars will be decided by mid-2025.

Teams in the series use a common Gen3 chassis but with brand-specific bodies, powertrains and aero -- all at parity. For the GR Supra Supercars, Toyota has opted for its proven 2UR-GSE engine, a 5.0-liter V-8 used in multiple Toyota and Lexus vehicles, including the Lexus RC F GT3 race car that competes in both the FIA World Endurance Championship and IMSA SportsCar Championship.

Toyota said winning the Bathurst 1000, the highlight of the Australia Supercars calendar, is one of its targets alongside the 2024 Hours of Le Mans on the World Endurance Championship calendar and similar premier events on the IMSA SportsCar, FIA World Rally, and NASCAR calendars.

Separately, Toyota is working on a new GT3 race car also thought to be packing a V-8 engine. Unlike the GR Supra Supercars, the new GT3 car is rumored to spawn a production model, possibly to be sold as a Lexus.