Cooperation for racing
teams applied key learnings from their prior collaborative efforts in NASCAR, which included the 2018 Toyota Camry that clinched the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championship. To build the Supra for NASCAR, TRD
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in the NXS.
“We’ve had tremendous success working with Calty to develop race cars that match the look, feel and excitement of their showroom counterparts,” said David Wilson, president of TRD. “We’re another race car, Supra, that is capable of winning races and championships. For
to how important this vehicle is to us, and championship winner.”
- petition since 2007, tallying four manufacturer championships while Camry has earned two driver championships and
in all three of NASCAR’s national series – Camry at the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) level, Supra in the NXS, and Tundra in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS).
The Supra previously raced in both America and Japan, where it was a dominant force in Super GT competition and a contender in the IMSA (International Motor Sports Association) Camel GT Series in the 1980s. It also made two appearances in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France in the 1990s.
TRD and Calty previously worked together to design: 2013 - sixth-generation Camry for MENCS; 2014 - Tundra for NCWTS; 2015 - seventh- generation Camry for NXS; 2016 - eighth- generation Camry for MENCS; and 2017 - eighth- generation Camry for NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.
Calty has worked hand-in-hand with TRD, Toyota’s North American race engineer arm, to ensure consistency between production models and on-track Toyota race cars, while also improving on-track performance with each new build. The groups began work on the NASCAR Supra in 2017.
“When Ed [Laukes] told me they were bringing Supra back, I almost didn’t be-
me, but Toyota did it and this is a big deal
Busch, who won the 2009 NXS championship in Camry. “Supra is an iconic cool car, and to have it racing in NASCAR to highlight Supra’s return speaks to how important this is. I’m hoping to be the
I’m sure there’s a few other Toyota drivers thinking the same thing.”
motor sports in America, the manufacturer now showcases six models across eight series in America. Toyota Racing Development’s lineup includes: Camry, Supra, and Tundra in the NASCAR national series; Camry in the NHRA Funny Car competition; Camry in the ARCA Racing Series and regional touring series; 86 and Corolla Hatchback in Formula Drift; as well as engines for dirt midget racing and other series.
Toyota Motor North America will release more information about Supra in the future.