Touring Car
During the Group A period, Toyota used the Mk II for Division 4 category touring car racing, especially in JTCC, ETCC, BTCC and ATCC with the AE86 competing in Division 1.
The Mk II Celica Supras, debuted in 1983, although relatively underpowered to be a serious contender against the Rover SD1 and BMW 635CSI, managed to be competitive despite this, being driven by drivers such as Win Percy, which he took it to win a BTCC round at Brands Hatch
When its star driver, Percy was tempted away by rival Tom Walkinshaw and his TWR prepared Jaguar XJS V12, Toyota GB took on Grand Prix motorcycle racing star Barry Sheene, following his retirement from motorcycle racing, for the 1985 BTCC season, but the car was outclassed by the newer turbocharged cars and Sheene's performance was hampered by past motorcycle racing injuries. Nevertheless, he drew in the crowds and would retire from professional racing at the end of the season.
When the Mk II was replaced by the Mk III Supra, like the Mk II, it had varying degrees of success but both TOM'S and SARD, who competed only in 1988, fared better in Japan with the TOM'S team winning on its debut in 1987. In all, eleven MA70 Group-A turbos were built by TRD Japan for racing.
The reason for lack of success was its larger engine capacity requiring it to run at a higher curb weight required by the regulations and also its lack of development. As the Ford Sierra Cosworth RS500, then the more advanced Nissan Skyline GT-R became the car to have. The Supra was abandoned at the end of the season in favour of the Toyota Corolla AE101 in 1991, and only a few were kept in competition by privateers until the end of the season.
Read more about this topic: Toyota Supra In Motorsport
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