The Japanese auto giant is once again entering six Toyota GR Supras in the top class of the series following its narrow title defeat to rival marque Honda in 2020.
As previously reported by Motorsport.com, the major changes are Sacha Fenestraz partnering Ryo Hirakawa in the #37 TOM'S car and Kenta Yamashita returning full-time to the series alongside Kazuya Oshima at Rookie Racing, recreating the 2019 title-winning line-up.
Fenestraz takes the seat that had been occupied since 2017 by Nick Cassidy, who is leaving the championship to participate in Formula E with Envision Virgin Racing.
Sho Tsuboi meanwhile replaces Fenestraz as Yuhi Sekiguchi's teammate in the #36 TOM'S car after spending a season with Oshima in what was effectively Cerumo's second car in 2020.
Rookie Racing has also got a new title sponsor in the shape of former Team LeMans sponsor ENEOS, which replaces chemical brand Wako's.
#6 Lexus Team LeMans Eneos Lexus SC430: Kazuya Oshima, Yuji Kunimoto
Photo by: SUPER GT
The remaining three line-ups within the Toyota are unchanged from last year.
Cerumo's #38 entry is sticking with veteran pairing Hiroaki Ishiura and Yuji Tachikawa, SARD keeps ex-Formula 1 star Heikki Kovalainen and Yuichi Nakayama, while Racing Project Bandoh maintains its pairing of Ritomo Miyata and Yuji Kunimoto.
Five of the six Toyota entries are on Bridgestone tyres, with Racing Project Bandoh maintaining its long-standing association with Yokohama.
Three GR Supras in GT300
Toyota has also announced that three of its GR Supra GT300 machines will be on the grid this year, following Thursday's news that LM Corsa will be using the car in 2021.
Joining LM Corsa and Saitama Toyopet in running the JAF GT300-spec car is Max Racing, which like LM Corsa is switching away from the increasingly out-of-favour Lexus RC F GT3.
However, the Lexus brand will remain on the grid via K-tunes Racing, which is running an unchanged line-up of Morio Nitta and Sena Sakaguchi.
Max Racing meanwhile has recruited Yuui Tsutsumi to join Atsushi Miyake in its Supra.
Elsewhere, apr will continue to field its pair of GR Sport Prius PHVs. Hiroaki Nagai and Manabu Orido remain a duo in the #30 car, while Koki Saga and Yuhki Nakayama pilot the #31.
#31 TOYOTA GR SPORT PRIUS PHV apr GT
Photo by: Masahide Kamio
A seventh Toyota entry was listed as TBA, but using the #35 that has been the preserve of the Team Thailand squad and its Lexus RC F GT3.
However, it's not known if Team Thailand or its 2020 drivers, Sean Walkinshaw and Mathias Beche, will be back for another season.
Full 2021 SUPER GT grid (GT500 class):
|
Manufacturer |
Team |
Tyre |
No. |
Drivers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Nissan |
NISMO |
Michelin |
23 |
|
|
Kondo Racing |
Yokohama |
24 |
|
|
|
Team Impul |
Bridgestone |
12 |
|
|
|
NDDP/B-Max Racing |
Michelin |
3 |
|
|
|
Toyota |
TOM’S |
Bridgestone |
36 |
|
|
37 |
|
|||
|
Racing Project Bandoh |
Yokohama |
19 |
|
|
|
SARD |
Bridgestone |
39 |
|
|
|
Cerumo |
Bridgestone |
38 |
|
|
|
Rookie Racing |
Bridgestone |
14 |
|
|
|
Honda |
Team Kunimitsu |
Bridgestone |
1 |
|
|
ARTA |
Bridgestone |
8 |
|
|
|
Team Mugen |
TBA |
16 |
|
|
|
Nakajima Racing |
TBA |
64 |
|
|
|
Real Racing |
Bridgestone |
17 |
|
Ronnie Quintarelli
Tsugio Matsuda
Sacha Fenestraz
Heikki Kovalainen
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January 22, 2021 at 12:56PM
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Toyota reveals 2021 Super GT drivers, GT500 grid complete - Motorsport.com, Edition: Global
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