Swindon Powertrain has been appointed as the official engine partner of Walkinshaw TWG Racing in the landmark project Toyotas debut i Repco Supercars Championship i 2026.
The British company will be responsible for the development and supply of key components for the new Toyota GR Supra GEN3, which will run its first full season on the Australian grid.
The program is planned to last five years and is already starting in earnest: at least five Toyota-powered cars will enter the championship from 2026. The collaboration between Swindon Powertrain and Walkinshaw TWG Racing has been ongoing for around a year, since the project was officially announced.
Development with a focus on performance and durability
Swindon Powertrain is leading the work on the design, simulation and production of the development engines, in addition to essential components such as the crankshaft layout. Final assembly and ongoing maintenance of the racing engines is carried out by Walkinshaw TWG Racing at their facility in Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
The basis of the project is the well-known 2UR-GSE V8 engine, an all-aluminum engine with double overhead camshafts, which is widely used in models such as Lexus LC 500. With an increased displacement to 5.2 litres, it fits naturally into Supercars– the regulations, which allow engines between 5.0 and 5.7 litres.
According to Swindon Powertrain’s managing director Raphaël Caillé, the engine’s square architecture (94 × 94 mm bore and stroke) provides an excellent starting point for a competitive and robust unit, with an output of around 600 hp.
More than 12,000 km per season
One of the biggest challenges in the project was balancing performance, durability and cost. The Supercars calendar involves more than 12,000 km of competitive driving per season, including demanding races such as the Bathurst 1000, famous for its long 1.19 mile straight.
To meet these requirements, Swindon Powertrain has focused on further development of the crankshaft, valve mechanism, combustion and calibration, while at the same time utilizing the robustness of Toyota’s original street car engine. This has made it possible to use more series-produced components, such as cylinder head, engine block, main bearing caps, timing chain and valve lifters, which helps to keep costs down.
The 2026 engine will also be equipped with hydraulic variable valve timing (VVT) and a 3D printed intake system, a technology already tested and proven in Swindon’s championship-winning engines in the British Touring Car Championship.
Approaching debut on the grid
Walkinshaw TWG Racing will field two Toyota GR Supra GEN3s, driven by Chaz Mostert and Ryan Wood. Brad Jones Racing will also be responsible for a further three cars, thus completing Toyota’s initial foray into the championship.
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Source and images: Swindon Powertrain. This content has been created with the help of KI and reviewed by the editors.
