Japanese auto giant’s new GT3 challenger unlikely to race in WEC next season…
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Photo: Toyota
Toyota’s new GT3 model appears unlikely to race in the FIA World Endurance Championship next year, with its series debut now more likely for 2027.
One of the most anticipated new GT3 cars of recent times, the next-generation car has been spotted testing in camouflage livery across numerous locations in Japan, Europe and North America ahead of what had been expected to be a widespread 2026 rollout.
It also made its first public outing in July at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, where it was presented in both race and road trim as the ‘Toyota GT Concept’ (pictured top).
However, no more information has been forthcoming from Toyota since then, and an official launch for the car, which remains nameless, does not appear to be imminent.
This has led to inevitable speculation that the car may not be ready in time to race in the WEC and other series such as the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in 2026, and that the Lexus RC F GT3 would instead be used for one more year.
A Toyota spokesperson declined to comment when contacted by Sportscar365.
While a WEC debut next year now looks unlikely, the possibility remains open that the car could race outside of the series sooner than the start of 2027.
This could take the form of an assault on the Nürburgring 24 with the quasi-works Toyota Gazoo Rookie Racing (TG-RR) squad, alongside possible outings in Japan’s Super Taikyu series, where TG-RR is also active.
Neither program would require the new car to be homologated.
Toyota has made no secret of its ambitions to challenge for overall honors on the Nordschleife in the near future, after contesting this year’s race with a GR Yaris DAT and a GR Supra GT4 EVO2 entered under the TG-RR banner with factory support.
SUPER GT champion Sho Tsuboi became the latest Toyota driver to obtain his ‘A permit’ on the Nordschleife in this month’s NLS7/8, in another sign the Japanese marque is preparing for an all-out assault on next year’s edition of the Eifel classic.
WEC rules do not allow for a change of car model mid-season, meaning that Toyota would have to commit to campaigning the Lexus RC F GT3 for one more season if the new car is not ready in time to contest the Qatar 1812km season opener in March.
The situation is different in the WeatherTech Championship and in the GT300 class of Japan’s SUPER GT series, where changes of model are permitted mid-season.
While it originally appeared as though the new Toyota GT3 car would carry Lexus branding worldwide, it now appears more likely that it will be known as a Lexus in North America only, and as a Toyota in most other markets.
Jamie Klein is Sportscar365’s Asian editor. Japan-based Klein, who previously worked for Motorsport Network on the Motorsport.cоm and Autosport titles, covers the FIA World Endurance Championship and SUPER GT, among other series.
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