The clock is ticking for Chaz Mostert's brand new Toyota Supra, and it's embarking on an intense two-week mission that's more than just a shakedown!
Get ready, Supercars fans, because Walkinshaw TWG Racing is sending their brand-new #1 Toyota Supra all the way to Queensland tonight. This isn't just any road trip; it's a crucial engine parity testing program that will also serve as the car's very first on-track outing – a combined shakedown and performance evaluation!
While Ford and GM are utilizing their established local partners, Triple Eight and Matt Stone Racing, for their Queensland testing efforts, all eyes will undoubtedly be on how this Toyota performs. The anticipation is palpable, and this testing period is our first real glimpse into its capabilities.
When can we expect to see it in action? Testing is slated to kick off as early as Sunday, with initial runs on MSR’s chassis dyno. This will be followed by up to two full days of track time at the renowned Queensland Raceway.
But the journey doesn't end there! Following their Queensland stint, the Walkinshaw Toyota and the Triple Eight Mustang will be heading to the iconic Bathurst. Here, they'll face a formidable opponent: a Team 18 Camaro. They'll be going head-to-head in a series of sessions during the 12 Hour event, a true test of endurance and speed.
And the grand finale of this whirlwind tour? Sydney Motorsport Park. This is where things get really exciting, with a total of five Toyotas set to hit the track. They'll be joining the entire Supercars field for the crucial pre-season test on Wednesday, February 18th, followed by a full race meeting from Friday to Sunday.
But here's where it gets gruelling... For the newly rebranded Walkinshaw TWG, these tight timelines are creating an incredibly demanding start to their life as a Toyota team. They're even sending up to five staff members on this pre-Sydney mission, highlighting the immense effort involved.
The team has been working non-stop in Melbourne, meticulously assembling engines. These powerhouses are then being transported to Brisbane for fine-tuning and final sign-off by Craig Hasted on Supercars’ official category dyno. This collaborative effort between Walkinshaw and the UK firm Swindon, who proudly announced their involvement this week, is a testament to the last-minute rush to get these machines race-ready.
And this is the part most people miss... While a UK-built test mule engine has already logged over 5000km since the Gen3 Supra first hit the track last September (with only a single dropped valve reported in November), the 'race spec' variant of the 5.2-litre Toyota engine only made its debut on Supercars’ dyno in mid-January. This means Monday at Queensland Raceway will be its very first taste of the track!
Walkinshaw needs five engines officially approved by Supercars to get themselves and their customer team, Brad Jones Racing (BJR), fully operational. Spare engines are only expected to be ready by race week in Sydney, adding another layer of pressure.
BJR, based in Albury, is understood to have received its first 'race spec' engine this week – the second to pass through Supercars' stringent checks. Previously, they only had a dummy engine available during their car builds. While BJR has been diligently charting their car builds via YouTube, they are yet to confirm when they'll be able to complete and shake down their trio of new Supras.
Meanwhile, Chaz Mostert’s new machine is no stranger to long journeys. It was the very Supra chassis that Supercars shipped to the United States last September for crucial wind tunnel testing. Walkinshaw made the decision to airfreight it back over the New Year to ensure it was ready for preparation.
Now, it's sporting its full race livery, unveiled to partners at Toyota’s Melbourne design studio on Wednesday night, with an online public reveal of both Walkinshaw cars scheduled for this Sunday.
So, what are your thoughts on this accelerated development timeline? Can the Toyota Supra overcome these challenges and be competitive from the get-go? Let us know in the comments below!
