Toyota’s Quest for a Kickass GT3 Race Car and its Production Counterpart
Toyota’s announcement of its plan to build a GT3 race car that will eventually spawn a production counterpart was met with much excitement in the automotive world. However, since the announcement over a year ago, there has been little news about the progress of the project. This lack of updates has led to speculation about the fate of the project. In this article, we will explore Toyota’s quest for a kickass GT3 race car and its production counterpart.
The GT3 Race Car Project
Toyota’s plan to build a GT3 race car was announced in August 2019. The project was part of Toyota’s efforts to expand its motorsport activities and strengthen its brand image. The company stated that it aimed to develop a race car that would be competitive in various global GT3 racing series, including the Blancpain GT Series, the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, and the Super GT series.
Toyota also revealed that it had partnered with German motorsport company, TMG (Toyota Motorsport GmbH), to develop the race car. TMG has extensive experience in motorsport, having competed in various racing series, including the World Rally Championship, the World Endurance Championship, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The Production Counterpart
In addition to the GT3 race car, Toyota also announced that it planned to develop a production counterpart. The road-going version of the race car was expected to be a high-performance sports car that would showcase Toyota’s engineering expertise and technological advancements.
Toyota did not reveal many details about the production counterpart, but it was speculated that it would be based on the race car’s platform and share many of its components. The production version was also expected to be a limited-edition model with a high price tag.
The Lack of Updates
Since the announcement of the GT3 race car project, there has been little news about its progress. Toyota has not provided any updates on the project, and there have been no sightings of the race car undergoing testing.
This lack of updates has led to speculation about the fate of the project. Some have suggested that Toyota may have shelved the project due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has disrupted the automotive industry and forced many companies to cut costs.
Others have speculated that Toyota may have shifted its focus to other projects, such as the development of electric and autonomous vehicles. Toyota has been investing heavily in these areas, and it is possible that the company has decided to prioritize these projects over the GT3 race car.
The Future of the Project
Despite the lack of updates, it is unlikely that Toyota has abandoned the GT3 race car project entirely. The company has a long history of motorsport involvement, and it is unlikely that it would give up on a project that was intended to strengthen its brand image and showcase its engineering expertise.
It is possible that Toyota has simply delayed the project due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other factors. The company may be waiting for the automotive industry to recover before resuming development of the race car.
Alternatively, Toyota may have decided to keep the project under wraps until it is closer to completion. The company may be keeping a low profile to avoid giving its competitors any advantage in the highly competitive world of GT3 racing.
Conclusion
Toyota’s quest for a kickass GT3 race car and its production counterpart has been shrouded in mystery since its announcement over a year ago. While there have been no updates on the project, it is unlikely that Toyota has abandoned it entirely. The company has a long history of motorsport involvement, and it is probable that it is simply delaying the project due to external factors.
Regardless of the reason for the lack of updates, Toyota’s GT3 race car project remains an exciting prospect for automotive enthusiasts. If and when the race car and its production counterpart are finally unveiled, they are sure to be impressive feats of engineering and design.
