Toyota has officially announced its entry into the Supercars Championship for the 2026 season, marking a historic move for the Japanese automaker as it becomes the first non-US manufacturer to compete in the top-tier Australian touring car series since Nissan’s departure in 2019. This venture will see Toyota partnering with Walkinshaw Andretti United (WAU), a team with deep ties to Australian motorsport, previously known as the Holden Racing Team.

Toyota will develop the GR Supra for Supercars’ Gen3 regulations, replacing the road car’s 3.0-litre turbocharged six-cylinder engine with a race-tuned version of the brand’s 5.0-litre V8 from the Lexus F performance models and the Lexus LC500. This entry positions Toyota against rivals Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro, which have dominated the series since the closure of the Holden brand in 2020.

Toyota’s commitment to the series spans five years, and the brand’s decision to enter Supercars has been considered for over two decades. Toyota, the top-selling car brand in Australia for 21 consecutive years, brings a rich motorsport heritage, having competed successfully in the predecessor to the Supercars Championship, the Australian Touring Car Championship (ATCC), with cars like the Toyota Corolla and Celica in the 1980s and earlier.

Walkinshaw Andretti United will run at least two of the four GR Supras planned, with Chaz Mostert and Ryan Wood switching from their current Mustangs to pilot the new Toyota cars. The development of the GR Supra race car is underway, led by Toyota’s Australian design team at the Altona headquarters in Melbourne. A clay model of the car was revealed to the media, signaling Toyota’s seriousness in making a competitive entry.

The entry of Toyota in the Supercars Championship brings a new dynamic to the grid, adding more variety and competition to a series long dominated by Ford and General Motors brands.