Toyota debuted four vehicles Monday on SEMA360, and will follow with more during the coming weeks.
While the Papadakis Racing Rockstar Energy Drink Toyota GR Supra that competes in the 2020 Formula DRIFT Pro class with champion driver Fredric Aasbo cannot be on the SEMA Show floor this year, it is primed and ready for racing as part of Toyota’s 2020 SEMA360 showcase presentation.
Papadakis Racing has earned championships and achieved records across several sport-compact racing disciplines. When Toyota announced the return of the Supra sports car nameplate to the model lineup, they were one of the first to modify the Supra’s 2988cc B58 inline six-cylinder engine for racing, specifically for Formula DRIFT.
The stout B58 powerplant produces 382 hp and 368 lb.-ft. of torque, and when combined with the all-new GR Supra platform, the package gave the team a solid foundation for a formidable drift racer. Focused on pushing the new engine’s performance limits, the team tore down the engine, reworked the head with help from Portflow Design, and added a package of competition-level components with an eye on increasing performance without sacrificing reliability.
The long list of upgrades includes a BorgWarner EFR 9280 turbocharger with dual TiAL Sport MV-R 44mm wastegates; AEM fuel pumps, fuel regulator, filter; AEM CD-7 dash; Injector Dynamics fuel injectors; BC forged steel connecting rods; custom 11-to-1 compression pistons from JE Pistons; Supertech Performance valvetrain; Kelford Cams exhaust cam; Mountune 3D printed aluminum intake manifold; and a Full Race turbo manifold. When all was said and done, Papadakis Racing nearly tripled output to the pavement with 1,033 hp and 908 lb.-ft. of torque.
“The Papadakis Racing team simply did wonders with the new GR Supra; I can’t believe how seriously they worked the motor. They designed and engineered what is proving to be a very competitive, super powerful and great sounding Formula DRIFT racer,” said Ed Laukes, group vice president – Toyota Division Marketing. “As with their previous Toyota race cars, this team knows what it takes to succeed, and their hard work is paying off at the track.”
Driver Fredric Aasbo put the No. 151 GR Supra on the top of the box in its competition debut at the 2020 season opener, and is currently in contention for the championship title. The season finale will be held November 20-22, in Irwindale, CA.
Papadakis Racing documented the build with a series of engine and race car build videos on YouTube and streamed an engine build live from the Toyota booth at the 2019 SEMA Show.
