In a bold move, Toyota is set to electrify the Repco Supercars Championship with a V-8-powered Supra starting in 2026. While the road-legal Supra comes equipped with four- and six-cylinder engines courtesy of BMW, the racing world is about to see a very different beast. Toyota’s Australian arm will shoehorn their in-house 5.0-liter V-8, the legendary 2UR-GSE, into the Supra, marking a new chapter for the iconic sports car.
The 2UR-GSE engine, a naturally aspirated aluminum powerplant, is no stranger to performance aficionados. It’s powered everything from Lexus’ F performance models like the RC F and LC 500 to the Dakar-winning Hilux. Now, it’s about to propel Toyota into the Supercars arena, where it will compete head-to-head with Ford’s 5.4-liter Coyote V-8 Mustang and a yet-to-be-announced replacement for Chevrolet’s Camaro, which ran a 5.7-liter V-8 before the model’s discontinuation in 2023.
Toyota’s entrance into the Supercars Championship under the Gen3 ruleset will see at least four GR Supra race cars take to the track. Two of these will be driven by seasoned pros Chaz Mostert and Ryan Wood for the Walkinshaw Andretti United (WAU) team. Notably, WAU is making the switch from Ford Mustangs to Toyota Supras for the 2026 season, solidifying Toyota’s growing influence in the motorsport world. The other team for Toyota’s campaign is yet to be revealed.
Toyota’s presence will mark the first time in seven years that the Supercars Championship will feature three manufacturers, with Ford, Chevrolet, and now Toyota competing for supremacy. In recent history, brands like Volvo, Nissan, and Mercedes had briefly taken part, but all eventually withdrew from the series. Toyota’s arrival is set to reinvigorate the competition, bringing fresh energy and a new rivalry to one of the world’s premier touring car championships.
Toyota has committed to a minimum five-year stint in the Supercars Championship, positioning itself as a major force in the series. With the added power and prestige of the V-8 Supra, 2026 is shaping up to be a pivotal year, not only for Toyota but for the entire Supercars grid. This announcement signals Toyota’s serious intent to make waves in the racing world, alongside their continued partnerships, such as the collaboration between Walkinshaw Automotive Group and Toyota in right-hand-drive conversions for Tundra trucks.
For racing fans and Toyota enthusiasts alike, the introduction of a V-8-powered Supra in Australia’s premier motorsport series promises to be a spectacle not to be missed.
