Supra with the ‘Gear Knob’ Stars on Track
Thrashing Toyota’s Stick Shifting Gazoo Racing Supra on Track!
Having got to grips with the automatic some while back, the manual six-hooker version of Toyota’s sexy GR Supra was introduced last year, and finally arrived in SA last week. We grabbed the chance to drive it in anger for the first time on Zwartkops Raceway.
This stick-shifting six-speed turbo-straight-six coupe rivals the likes of BMW’s M240i Coupe, and of course it’s open Z4 sibling, Mercedes-AMG’s C43 Coupe, the Porsche 718 Cayman and also Ford’s V8 Mustang. As much as it pays homage to its own, great legend.
Fortunately, the World Woke Up Again!
The first straight-six Supra topped Toyota’s late 1970s Celica range. As antidote to those early Datsun-Nissan Z cars. Hugely popular over four generations, Supra faded on declining 1990s sportscar buyer interest and production ended in ‘98.
Fortunately, the world woke up again. Enough for arch-enthusiast Toyota scion Akio Toyoda to contact BMW to co-develop his latest Gazoo Racing project. This all-new fifth-generation Supra ended that 22-year hiatus in 2020. But the market was still not happy. It demanded a manual, too.
So, in typical Toyota style, Gazoo Racing has listened to the market, considered, developed, and now four years later, now unleashed this 6-speed manual GR Supra. The 382 HP 369 lb.-ft turbocharged straight-six sight manual dumps its slush box for a Toyota-tweaked version of BMW’s 8-speed ZF manual gearbox.
Slick Supra Shift Benefits Perfect Knob Action
Refined by the likes of a slicker gearshift throw, thanks to perfected knob weight and action, and a few other improvements over the BMW original, Gazoo Racing’s three-pedal stick-shifter brings quite a change to the car.
It has evolved into a notably different driving experience compared its automatic kin. That stubby, short-shifting knob and a keen clutch feel transform this manual into a far more direct driving prospect. Its ratios are well spread and overcome some of the auto’s gear pack anomalies. In spite of sitting two cogs short.
Boasting a Nürburgring-tuned rear-wheel drive, a short wheelbase, and wide track, GR Supra does just as well around the tight and twisty Zwartkops Raceway. You feel its low center of gravity and rigid lightweight body through its thrilling roadholding, handling, and drive.
Manual Makes Supra Better to Control
The biggest gains however come in this new manual box’s ability to so much better control the car. Never mind light up the rear end, to drift and burn rubber on command. 0-60 mph acceleration is a claimed 4 seconds, while Brembo clamps stop it very well, too.
There’s however something else special about this stick-shift Supra. I grew up around my grandfather’s ’66 275 GTB. In my mind, the finest Ferrari ever, it spawned my love for cars. My first manual GR Supra impression of this was, ‘damn, it reminds me of that 275!’ And the more I drove it; the more it reminded me of that great Ferrari too.
Let’s be clear, this Supra is not trying to be a Ferrari. Not that its voluptuous Coke bottle hips, the V12 qualities of its six-pot soundtrack, and now this superb click-click stick-shifting ‘box don’t press all those emotional old buttons. This Gazoo Racing Toyota is rather borne out of its own great Supra legend. It’s just circumstance that it gets my 275 GTB goat. Or is it?
Supra Ferrari-likeness Well Founded
The Toyota Gazoo Racing Supra manual is now and even more refined tribute to its own ancestors. And Akio Toyoda’s Gazoo dream. So, yes, it certainly bears comparison to its great forebears. It’s so good however, that it even evokes emotions of driving among history’s greatest Ferraris. Go figure!
Images: Toyota
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