This Toyota GR Corolla Cross Racer Will Make You Forget It’s There

The 500-horsepower race car has little in common with the production version of the compact SUV because it rides on a custom platform

SUVs dominate the streets, so it’s no surprise that they’ve crept onto the track as well. Case in point: the new Corolla Cross race car you see here from Toyota Gazoo Racing (GR), built specifically for the Brazilian Stock Car Pro Series championship.

Naturally, the life of the GR Corolla Cross race car has been knocked down to only an inch, and its SUV silhouette has completely disappeared. The bodywork is a Frankenstein of carbon fiber, aramid, fiberglass and Kevlar, complete with flared fenders, aggressive cooling air intakes and enough aerodynamics to make an F1 engineer blush. . The massive rear wing works together with the large diffuser and prominent splitter at the front to generate enough downforce to keep it glued to the track.

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While the overall shape may remind you of a showroom Corolla Cross, don’t be fooled—almost the only stock parts left are the taillights and Toyota badge. The race-specific design features a bold Gazoo Racing livery, with red and white graphics contrasting with a black base.

The spartan cabin features monitors, a full roll cage, and a variety of custom switches on the dash. The model is also equipped with a 360-degree in-car camera that can display the game in real time during the broadcast.

Photo credit: Pit Stop Films/Disclosure

And it’s not a solo career. The GR Corolla Cross will compete with other SUV-turned-racing variants such as the Chevrolet Tracker and Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross. All three models use the same Audace SNG01 platform, which interestingly has nothing in common with the production models you’ll see at your local dealer.

Under the hood is a turbocharged 2.1-liter engine that produces about 500 horsepower on Podium gasoline. All this power is sent to the rear wheels via a six-speed XTrac sequential transmission. The car features pushrod suspension with adjustable Penske Racing shock absorbers. Stopping power is taken care of by a set of Hipper Freios discs with Cobreq pads and AP Racing calipers.

According to organizers, the new Corolla Cross is lighter, faster and more technologically advanced than the Corolla sedan it replaces. Toyota Gazoo Racing has been the dominant force in Brazil’s Stock Car Pro series since 2020, recording 49 wins in 106 races. The latest evolution of the stock car will debut in 2025, and it’s aiming for more.

H/T to Top Gear Philippines