By Steve & Tamami Laser; with Nahoko Osuka reporting from Japan
Toyota Gazoo Racing introduced a new GT-spec Supra at the annual Tokyo Auto Salon custom car show today and announced that it will compete in Japan’s Super GT500 class race with the car in 2020.
The Super-GT Supra is the latest evolution of a racing car based on the new Supra that was revealed last March at the Geneva Motor Show. The news comes just a few days before the production 2020 Supra makes its world debut at the Detroit Auto Show.
“The launch of the Supra is intended to provide joy to large numbers of customers and, by competing with the Supra in various races, Toyota Gazoo Racing intends to further refine the vehicle and contribute to the creating of ever-better cars,” said the automaker. “We will make every effort to ensure that the Supra will inspire new legends that can be shared with all its fans, who have waited patiently for the return of the car to the Super GT arena.”
Motorsports continues to play a vital role in Toyota’s development of sports cars. The GR Supra Super GT Concept was introduced at the Tokyo Auto Salon by Shigeki Tomoyama (above), executive vice president of Toyota Motor Corp. and president of Gazoo Racing Co.
Toyota Gazoo Racing participates in top category races including the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) and FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), along with national rallies and races. In addition to the new Supra, racing cars on display at the Auto Salon include the Yaris WRC, the Le Mans winning TS050 Hybrid (above), and Lexus LC Nürburgring-spec.
Also on display at the Tokyo Auto Salon is a prototype of the production “A90” Supra still wearing its artfully designed camouflage. The prototype made its debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed Silver Jubilee (25th anniversary) last July in the UK.
Over the years, Supra built a reputation as a formidable player on the road and track, winning the Japanese GT racing series four times. Among the historic Supra racing cars on display at the Auto Salon is the Fujitsu Ten Tom’s Supra (above) from the Japan Touring Car Championship in 1990, the final year of participation for the A70 Supra series.
The silver and orange racer (above) is the au CERUMO Supra Japan GT Championship 2001. Hiroyuki Takeuchi and Yusuke Tachikawa won the Driver’s Champion with this car.
Another fantastic trip down memory lane at the Auto Salon is this DENSO SARD Supra HV-R that participated in the TOKACHI 24-hour Race. TGR says it was the first time that hybrid cars won the overall victory in a semi-international style race.
The annual Tokyo Auto Salon is Japan’s largest custom car show where there’s something for everyone including performance cars, trucks, vans and racing machines. In addition to exhibits from the major automakers, a wide array of custom car shops, aftermarket parts manufacturers and related companies present their latest creations and products.
Visit the Tokyo Auto Salon website for more information on the show.
News source and photos courtesy Toyota Motor Corp. and Toyota Gazoo Racing Co.
Story © 2019 CarNichiWa.com