After some paddock concerns about potential delays to some of the planned launch programmes for Toyota’s new-for-2027 GR GT3, senior sources have confirmed to DSC that all four programmes remain on track.
The new GR GT3 race car will be a launch point for the GR brand, badged as a GR and not as a Toyota. After years of testing, the GR GT3 is set to replace the venerable Lexus RC F GT3 in competition from 2027.
First to race will be ROOKIE Racing in Japan, with potential entries for a single car in either or both of the SUPER GT and Super Taikyu season finales at Mobility Resort Motegi and Fuji Speedway, respectively.
The team, founded by Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda, will run the new GR GT3 in the GT300 class of SUPER GT next year.
A test car is set to be in the hands of Vasser Sullivan Racing at IMSA’s December test at Daytona, ahead of a full season of competition in both the GTD Pro and GTD classes of the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
After some sources had suggested that the car may debut after either Daytona or Sebring, DSC has been told that the Rolex 24 Hours is still planned for the car’s US debut.
The FIA WEC is set to see a pair of cars in LMGT3 form race for the full 2027 season with Akkodis ASP. The team is understood to have not yet independently tested a car, though senior team members have been present during other test outings, principally with KCMG at the Nürburgring.
And it’s KCMG that is set to complete the GR GT3s launch year plans with a yet-to-be-confirmed programme based around the NLS and N24.
It’s understood that no further customer cars will be released for competition in 2027, but Toyota must build 20 within two years of formal homologation to comply with GT3 regulations.
This would rule out current SUPER GT Lexus customer teams K-tunes Racing and SHADE Racing from racing the GR GT3 until at least 2028.
