Toyota has big plans for a new race car called the GR GT3. It's being developed to compete in the GT3 class starting in 2026. A camouflaged test prototype was recently spotted at the famous Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium. Even in rainy conditions, the GR GT3 sounded mean as the driver pushed it hard around the 4.3-mile track. What Is the Toyota GR GT3? The Toyota GR GT3 was first shown as a concept car back in 2022. It previewed an upcoming replacement for the aging Lexus RC F GT3 race car. While badged as a Toyota for racing, the GR GT3 will also spawn a road-going version that will wear Lexus branding when it arrives. Toyota's racing director Rob Leupe confirmed this plan last year, stating: "It depends on how it develops within Toyota, but at the moment, yes [the road car] seems to be [a Lexus]." A Powerful V8 Engine From the angry exhaust growl in the spy video, it seems clear the GR GT3 will pack a potent V8 engine. This fits with Toyota's philosophy of creating road cars directly influenced by its race programs. Both the race and road versions were initially targeted for a 2025 debut. However, that timeline has now shifted to 2026 due to some development hurdles. Toyota's racing chief David Wilson recently explained: "The timeline [for launch] is still 2026-ish, and development continues to go well. Everything is going to plan, but you have to leave yourselves a bit of leeway." He suggested the racing debut could potentially happen at the 2026 Daytona 24 Hours endurance event in Florida. An Exciting Road Model to Follow While the focus right now is on preparing the GR GT3 race car, Toyota enthusiasts are undoubtedly more eager to see the forthcoming road-legal sports car version from Lexus.Having a new V8-powered Lexus performance model with direct motorsports roots would be a welcome addition to the brand's lineup. Lexus has lacked a true flagship sports car since the LFA concluded production over a decade ago. It remains to be seen what body style the Lexus GR road car will take - whether a coupe, convertible or perhaps even a dedicated sports car architecture. But with a thundering V8 under the hood and race-bred dynamics, it's shaping up to be an exciting revival of Lexus' performance heritage. Details are still thin, but more information should emerge as the GR GT3 program continues testing ahead of its competition debut in 2026. In the meantime, these new spy videos offer an exciting preview of the sound and fury we can expect when Toyota's latest GT3 contender finally hits the track for real. Source: CS Media
