2019 Tokyo Auto Salon – Toyota Gazoo Racing – 2020 Supra Enters Super GT500 Class

By Steve & Tamami Laser

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.

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.

News source and photos courtesy of Toyota Motor Corp. and Toyota Gazoo Racing Co.

Story (commentary) © 2019 CarNichiWa.com