Toyota GR GT3 completes first race weekend without issues – finishes both Super GT races at Motegi, an important milestone in its development journey

Toyota's long-awaited GR GT3 has successfully completed its first competitive race weekend, finishing both races of the 2026 Super GT double-header at Mobility Resort Motegi, Japan, on November 7 and 8 without any major mechanical issues.

Entered by Team Eneos Rookie under the GR GT3 Concept designation, the No. 32 car was driven by Hiroaki Ishiura and Tokiya Suzuki in the GT300 category. The weekend marked the first time Toyota's next-generation GT3 machine had participated in an actual race, following several years of development and private testing.

However, the GR GT3 was not entered as a conventional championship contender. As the car has yet to complete its GT3 homologation process, it participated as a specially approved open entry, allowing Toyota to evaluate the machine under competitive conditions without being eligible to score championship points.

The objective was to gather development data and identify areas for improvement before the car's wider racing debut in 2027, rather than prioritising outright results.

On Saturday, the GR GT3 qualified 27th in the GT300 field before making progress to finish 19th, one lap behind the class winner. The following day, it demonstrated improved qualifying pace and completed Sunday's race one lap down again, officially classified 24th.

More importantly for Toyota, the GR GT3 completed both races without any major mechanical trouble. 

Actual racing reveals important development points

Speaking to Sportscar365 on November 6, Ishiura, who has been heavily involved in the GR GT3's development, explained that the decision to enter the car into an actual race had already proven beneficial during Friday's practice session.

According to Ishiura, certain operational issues only become apparent when a car is subjected to the demands of a race weekend, particularly during pit stops and driver changes.

Among the areas identified were the adjustable pedal mechanism, which must be repositioned quickly for different drivers, and clutch operation when leaving the pits with the steering wheel turned.

Although these may seem like relatively minor details, their importance becomes apparent during competitive pit stops, where drivers and mechanics must work quickly without compromising reliability.

Ishiura also highlighted another important consideration: cockpit visibility when racing among other competitors.

Much of the GR GT3's previous testing had been conducted with the car running alone on a circuit, making it difficult to fully assess visibility when surrounded by other GT300 machinery.

Speaking separately during a press conference at Motegi, as reported by Japanese automotive publication Car Watch, Ishiura expressed satisfaction with the GR GT3's overall drivability.

He explained that the car felt intuitive to operate and could be driven at racing speed almost immediately after entering the circuit, suggesting that Toyota's development work had already established a strong foundation.

The car's cockpit comfort and ease of operation were also encouraging, particularly as the GR GT3 is ultimately being developed for customer racing teams, whose drivers will have varying levels of experience.

Why debut in Super GT?

Toyota GR GT3 chief engineer Takashi Doi also explained the reasoning behind choosing Super GT as the venue for the car's competitive debut.

Speaking to Japanese publication Motorsport.com Japan during the Motegi weekend, Doi said Toyota had been conducting circuit tests throughout the development programme but had also been looking for an opportunity to assess the car under actual racing conditions.

Following discussions with Team Eneos Rookie, the team secured permission to enter the GR GT3 Concept in the GT300 category.

The decision provided Toyota with an opportunity to run the car alongside established GT3 competitors, rather than relying entirely on private testing.

Super GT's GT300 field includes machinery from manufacturers such as Porsche, Mercedes-AMG, Lamborghini and Nissan, offering Toyota a useful environment in which to evaluate the GR GT3's performance and behaviour around other race cars.

Doi also emphasised that the development process remains ongoing, with the Motegi appearance intended to provide another opportunity to refine the car before its introduction to customers.

GR GT3 is Toyota's next-gen customer race car

The GR GT3 was first previewed at the Tokyo Auto Salon in January 2022, before undergoing extensive testing at circuits around the world.

The front-engined, rear-wheel-drive machine features a twin-turbocharged V8 engine, departing from the naturally aspirated V8 configuration used by the long-serving Lexus RC F GT3.

It has been developed as Toyota's next-generation customer racing platform, with an emphasis on aerodynamic performance, reliability and ease of operation.

The GR GT3 is expected to succeed the Lexus RC F GT3 in international competition, with its wider racing programme scheduled to begin in 2027.