Photo by Chelsea Jay, Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0. Used here to illustrate a Toyota GR Supra model; this is not the Formula Supra. (Credit links at the end of the content)
Take a 2020 Toyota GR Supra, already a serious performance machine, Formula Supra story!
So when I heard it for the first time, I got real goosebumps. I thought to myself, what if I had that in my car and could enjoy it on the street? It sounds a bit crazy, and that is exactly why I decided to write this article.
So imagine removing the turbocharged inline-six and installing an Formula engine car instead.
That is exactly drift driver Ryan Tuerck did, creating one of the wildest Supra builds ever seen.
He installed the Judd GV4 V10 engine; 4.0-liter.
However, in the Supra, it revs up to around 11,000 RPM and produces up to 750 horsepower, the result completely transforms the car’s personality.
So when you compare the original engine BMW-sourced B58, the Judd unit is slightly heavier, but the sound and power delivery make it worth it.
The scream of it, has even been compared to the famous note of the Lexus LFA, when the car drifts past at full throttle, the noise alone makes it unforgettable!
Anecdote: The JUDD GV4 in this Supra is based on the 3.5L F1 GV engine that powered F1 teams in the early ’90s. So they also partnered with Yamaha at the times, however, today, it’s sold as a ‘heritage’ engine, reliable, and perfect for bringing classic F1 tech to modern cars.
Formula Engine and A Race Car Heart – Toyota GR Supra
Power from this F1 engine in a Toyota GR Supra goes through a six-speed sequential gearbox; the shifts are quick, mechanical, and loud, much close to a race than a typical road vehicle.
Every gear change comes with a sharp crack from the exhaust, adding to the motorsport feel.
But installing such a powerful engine required far more than just an engine swap.
Reinforcing the Supra, Ryan Tuerck and his team
To handle the V10’s power, Ryan Tuerck had to make major changes to the chassis.
Custom subframes were added, the differential was reinforced, and the suspension geometry was reworked to cope with the stress of drifting and high-speed driving.
And the team also focused heavily on weight reduction, by stripping the car down and using lightweight components, the build now weights around 2,500 pounds.
That means, the car is 800 pounds lighter than a standard Supra; combined with the high-revving V10, the power-to-weight ratio becomes extremely impressive.
The side-exit exhaust, makes the experience even more dramatic, and the sound of the F1 engine in a car blasts straight out of the side of the vehicle, turning every run into a loud and unforgettable show.
ANECDOTE: When I first learned the numbers; I had to double-check, so the Judd GV4 V10, actually weights less than the stock BMW B58 engine, around 145 KG compared to the B58’s 190 KG. And it was not just any V10, it’s a Le Mans-tested powerhouse, born from the same racing technology that dominated LMP1 prototypes, hearing that this F1-derived heart once roared around endurance tracks gives the Supra a story as rich as its sounds.
Built for More Than Drifting
Although the car was created with drifting in mind, the Formula Supra can do much more, with its lightweight body, better chassis, and powerful V10; allow it to perform well.
The car can slide sideways in drift events, attack laps times on a race circuit for example.
A Unique Motorsport Experiment
So what I think for the end is; this project is more than just a loud engine swap.
It shows what happens when creativity and engineering freedom meet; installing a F1-derived V10 engine into a modern supra is not something most builders would attempt, yet the result proves it can work.
So for the fans of drifting, motorsport engineering, or high-revving machines, this Toyota GR Supra stands as a reminder that some of the best ideas come from pushing boundaries.
And hearing an F1 engine in a car like this makes the experiment completely worth.
So the video below belongs to its original creator, and we have embedded it here in a fair way. It showcases the incredible work done by Ryan Tuerck and his team in building such an amazing car with that unforgettable sound.
Disclaimer: This embedded video is used for informational and educational purposes under fair use. All rights belong to the original content creator.
FEATURED IMAGE MORE INFORMATIONS:
Photo by Chelsea Jay, Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0. Used here to illustrate a Toyota GR Supra model; this is not the Formula Supra via Wikimedia Commons
Description: 2020 Toyota GR Supra 3.0 taken in Brentford, Greater London. Free stock image used to represent the model on this site; this is not Ryan Tuerck’s Formula Supra.
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