Details and impressions of the new Toyota GR GT3’s debut at Motegi

The Toyota GR GT3 is set to make its racing debut at the Super GT season finale in Motegi, Japan. Rookie Racing will field the car, which will be driven by Hiroaki Ishiura – one of the car’s development drivers – and Toyota’s young driver Tokiya Suzuki.

“In consultation with Rookie Racing, we have decided that this is the right time and place,” GR GT project manager Takashi Doi told Sportscar365. He went on to explain why the team and the brand opted to compete in Super GT rather than Super Taikyu, which has frequently been used as a development series in recent years. “Ultimately, after weighing up various options, we came to the conclusion that it would be better to showcase the car in Super GT, where many GT3 cars compete side by side.”

“When we arrived at the circuit and began the usual test programme that we’d already completed with the Mercedes-AMG, I realised once again how many issues come to light when you really put the car through its paces under real racing conditions,” Hiroaki Ishiura goes on to explain to the specialist website. “There were a few moments when I thought it was really good that we’d brought the car to the race whilst it was still in the concept phase. One example is the pedals. You have to ensure there’s a proper locking mechanism, otherwise the setting doesn’t immediately return to the correct position for the driver in question. During the tests, I’d simply adjusted the settings to my own preferences without paying much attention to it, but when you’re changing drivers quickly, you realise you need a mechanism like that. Another example is lining up in front of the pits. When the lights turn green and you’re supposed to set off, you have to start off with the steering wheel already turned fully. We hadn’t practised using the clutch in this situation during the test drives beforehand. We also assessed things like visibility in the mirrors and general visibility on the track. As we’d mainly been testing on our own up to that point, driving alongside competitors gave me a new perspective on how they look from inside the cockpit. After completing this first session, I’ve gained a clear sense of what works well and what could still be improved. This really underlines the immense value of taking part in a racing environment as opposed to standard testing alone.”

Ishiura cannot compare the Toyota GR GT3 with the Mercedes-AMG GT3, which the team has used to date in the GT300 class of Super GT. “I can’t make a direct comparison, but the driving feel is quite different from what I’m used to. It’s a car that’s been built to different specifications – for example, in terms of ride height – so the aerodynamics change accordingly to meet the regulations. It’s clear that this car features the latest, state-of-the-art aerodynamics for a GT3 car. But when driving it, you don’t feel any discomfort whatsoever. I’ve driven many different cars before, but there’s nothing particularly difficult about this one.”

In 2027, selected and works-supported teams will undertake an initial racing programme with the Toyota GR GT3. Currently, entries are planned for the FIA WEC, the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, races in Japan and endurance races on the Nürburgring Nordschleife.

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