Toyota is building its newest road car around a racing platform. The GR GT differs from previous models because it was designed to be a race car first, according to the automaker. This approach shifts away from the traditional strategy where companies race a road car and then update it for the street. The company states that the need to make the GR GT3 race car competitive influenced design decisions for the road car, not the other way around.
Designed for Competition
Toyota Senior Vice President of Automotive Operations Andrew Gilleland explained the philosophy behind the vehicle. In a video for IMSA’s YouTube channel, he noted that the entire car was designed to be a race car first. He pointed out that the road car features aero components that serve a functional purpose rather than being for show.
The GR GT3 race car shares over 80% of its components with the GR GT road car. This is a significant increase compared to the 25% commonality between the Lexus RC F GT3 and its road-car counterpart. There are visible differences, such as the race car’s large rear wing and larger air vents for cooling. However, the underlying structure and engineering remain closely linked.
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While Toyota has raced in IMSA for years, the focus on a dedicated road version of a race car is a new direction. The last comparable effort was the Ford GT, which was narrowly focused on winning the GT-class at the 2016 24 Hours of Le Mans. Toyota is taking a more open-ended approach with the GR GT, though the production numbers will be limited.
Powertrain Specs
Toyota is using a new 4.0-liter, twin-turbo V8 engine for the GR GT. The hybrid powertrain in the road car targets 641 horsepower and 627 pound-feet of torque. The race car version ditches the hybrid system but retains the V8, which features turbos in a “hot-V” configuration. The engine is mounted well back in the chassis.
This engine setup is similar to the Mercedes-AMG GT GT3, which will be a competitor in the same class. For Toyota, moving to a “hot-V” configuration is a significant step. The Lexus RC F GT3 has won the 2023 GTD Pro driver, team, and manufacturer championship with Vasser Sullivan Racing. The GR GT aims to expand that legacy.
