Wing Hin Motorsports akan mempertaruhkan jentera Toyota GR Supra GT4 Evo2, yang bakal dipandu oleh pelumba Malaysia, Naquib Azlan dan Amer Harris, bersama pelumba berpengalaman dalam siri Super Taikyu dari Jepun, Shuji Maeshima.

Super Taikyu dianggap sebagai siri perlumbaan daya tahan pro-am terulung di Jepun, yang berasaskan kereta jelajah produksi dengan jarak perlumbaan antara 3 jam hingga 24 jam. Siri Eneos Super Taikyu 2026 akan terdiri daripada 7 pusingan yang berlangsung di pelbagai litar di seluruh Jepun.

Menerajui usaha baharu ini adalah bekas pemandu Super GT, Masahiro Sasaki, yang akan bertindak sebagai penasihat pasukan. Sasaki memainkan peranan penting dalam membimbing Naquib dan Amer semasa kempen sulung Piala GR86/BRZ mereka pada tahun 2025.

Sasaki merupakan pemandu Toyota Gazoo Racing dan juga pemandu pembangunan bagi Toyota serta Lexus. CV perlumbaan beliau termasuklah bersaing dalam Piala GR86/BRZ, Super Taikyu, Nurburgring 24 Hours dan Kelas GT300 dalam Super GT.

Misi mempertahankan kejuaraan keseluruhan Piala GR86/BRZ pasukan pula akan diketuai oleh Mitchell Cheah, seorang pemandu kereta jelajah berpengalaman yang pernah memenangi kejuaraan Kelas GT4 di The Super Series Thailand pada 2025 serta bersaing dalam 4-Hour ADAC Nurburgring Langstrecken Series pada tahun yang sama.

Sementara itu, di bawah inisiatif Program Perlumbaan Pelanggan Wing Hin Motorsports juga diberi tanggungjawab membimbing pelumba muda Indonesia, Jordan Johan, dalam penyertaan kedua bagi kategori GR86, mewakili Toyota Gazoo Racing Indonesia.

Kempen pasukan ini akan disokong oleh penaja setia, Moty’s, yang akan menggunakan tuntutan getir dunia sukan permotoran sebagai medan ujian bagi minyak enjin baharu mereka. Minyak tersebut dibangunkan menggunakan Minyak Asas Dikilang Semula (RRBO), iaitu minyak asas yang dihasilkan daripada penapisan semula minyak enjin terpakai. Kesemua kereta pasukan akan menggunakan teknologi pelincir mesra alam ini.

Wing Hin Motorsports will field a Toyota GR Supra GT4 Evo2, driving by Malaysians Naquib Azlan and Amer Harris, alongside experienced Japanese Super Taikyu campaigner Shuji Maeshima.

Super Taikyu is regarded as Japan’s premier pro-am endurance racing series, based on production touring cars and ran over single 3-Hour to 24-Hour race distances. The 2026 Eneos Super Taikyu Series will consist of 7 rounds taking place at various circuits in Japan.

You may also be interested: Toyota Gazoo Racing Malaysia Takes On The Thailand Super Series With GR Supra GT4

Spearheading their foray into this new endeavour is none other than former Super GT driver Masahiro Sasaki, who will serve as the team’s advisor.  Sasaki was instrumental in guiding Naquib and Amer during their maiden GR86/BRZ Cup campaign in 2025.

Sasaki is a Toyota Gazoo Racing driver and is also a development driver for Toyota and Lexus. His racing CV includes competing in the GR86/BRZ Cup, Super Taikyu, Nurburgring 24 Hours and the GT300 Class of Super GT.

Leading the team’s defence of its overall GR86/BRZ Cup win is Mitchell Cheah, a seasoned touring car driver whose accolades include winning the GT4 Class championship at the The Super Series in Thailand in 2025 and competing in the 4-Hour ADAC Nurburgring Langstrecken Series in 2025.

Meanwhile, under its Customer Racing Program initiative, Wing Hin Motorsports will also be charged with guiding young Indonesian driver Jordan Johan in a second GR86 entry, representing Toyota Gazoo Racing Indonesia.

The team’s campaign will be backed by long-time sponsor Moty’s, who will be using the gruelling demands of motorsports as a proving ground for its new engine oil developed using Re-Refined Base Oil (RRBO), a base oil produced by re-refining used engine oil. All the team’s cars will run on this environmentally friendly lubricant technology.

The familiar 2.4-litre naturally aspirated engine remains at the heart of the car, but Subaru has reworked it using know-how from the BRZ CNF race car that competed in the Super Taikyu Series from 2022 through early 2024. The company explained that the pistons, connecting rods, crankshaft, flywheel and clutch cover have been manufactured with extremely tight tolerances, reducing weight variations and improving rotational balance. Subaru said these changes give the car a more race-car-like character, with noticeably smoother acceleration and reduced vibration.

The enhancements don’t stop with the engine. The STI Sport Type RA sits on 18-inch BBS wheels finished in matte bronze or grey, paired with ZF dampers and Brembo brakes featuring gold callipers. Subaru has also fitted the same rear differential casing used in its race cars, complete with cooling fins for better thermal management during spirited driving.

Subaru Tecnica International has added several components of its own to heighten the BRZ’s dynamics. The car receives front and rear under spoilers, a revised exhaust system, a sturdier sway bar and a draw stiffener to limit chassis flex.

The most eye-catching element is the huge carbon rear wing available on the higher-spec version, giving the coupe a far more purposeful stance. Small but thoughtful details, such as a unique engine plaque, black door handles and red stitching on the seats, round off the package.

The car is offered solely with a six-speed manual gearbox equipped with a shift-assist feature that combines downshift rev-matching with the ability to upshift without lifting off the throttle.

Prices begin at 4,972,000 yen (around RM132,700) for the version without the large rear wing, while the winged variant starts at 5,478,000 yen (around RM146,300). Even with the money in hand, securing one won’t be easy. Subaru is limiting production to just 300 units, and buyers must enter a lottery for the opportunity to purchase the car.

Inspired by a cultural fusion of Japanese engineering and Malaysian heritage, the livery created by Motorsport Playground brings an artistic twist to the Subaru BRZ and WRX. The design integrates Malaysia’s iconic Songket patterns with intricate geometric shapes and rich symbolism, transforming these high-performance vehicles into vibrant symbols of tradition and modernity. The livery also features the Malaysian national flower, Bunga Raya, in place of the usual Sakura motifs, infusing the design with local pride.

The collaborative project extends beyond the vehicles, with PMC unveiling an exclusive streetwear collection that mirrors this cultural blend. Each piece in the line embodies the precision of Japanese craftsmanship with contemporary Malaysian design, offering a unique style that resonates with both motorsport fans and fashion enthusiasts.

In a further showcase of performance, Subaru took on a thrilling time attack challenge at the PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit. The Subaru BRZ and WRX, under the expert preparation of TD Racing, completed the circuit with impressive times: the Subaru BRZ with manual transmission finished in 02:42:211, while the WRX with CVT clocked in at 02:43:472, driven by professional racer Freddie Ang.

Subaru’s presence at the Tokyo Auto Salon Kuala Lumpur will celebrate innovation, performance, and cultural fusion. The “Kuala Lumpur Edition” vehicles and PMC’s streetwear collection will be available for sale from 8 to 10 November 2024 at MITEC, offering fans a chance to own a piece of this unique collaboration.

Sport Mode Features:

• Improved Throttle Response: Activating Sport mode enhances throttle response for better acceleration.
• Active Sound Control: Engine noise is artificially amplified through the cabin in Sport mode. While some may appreciate the added engine noise, others might prefer this feature to be optional.

Enhanced Handling and Comfort:

• Retuned Shock Absorbers and Power Steering: Both the BRZ and the equivalent 2025 Toyota GR86 have received adjustments to their shock absorbers and power steering. Subaru claims these changes improve handling precision and ride comfort.
• Automatic Transmission Adjustments: For the automatic BRZ, the rpm limit range has been increased to help reduce the risk of over-revving during manual gear changes.

Design and Pricing:

• Daytime Running Lights: The 2025 BRZ features slightly revised daytime running lights.
• Pricing: In Japan, the updated BRZ starts at 3,322,000 yen (approximately RM98,244) and goes up to 3,817,000 yen (nearly RM112,883) for the STI Sport trim with the six-speed automatic transmission.

Special Editions and Track-Only Model:

• Unlike Toyota, which introduced the Ridge Green Limited variant of the GR86, Subaru has not announced any special edition for the BRZ.
• Track-Only BRZ Cup Car Basic: This model comes with steel wheels and a manual transmission, priced at 3,722,400 yen (RM110,085).

Public Debut:

• The 2025 Subaru BRZ will make its public debut on July 14 at the Fuji 86/BRZ Style 2024 event held at Fuji Speedway.
• Subaru aims to sell about 300 units per month in the Japanese market.

The 2025 Subaru BRZ continues to build on its reputation as an attainable sports car, offering improved driving dynamics and new features to enhance the overall driving experience.