2023 Toyota GR Supra 3.0 at Lightning Lap 2023

From the February/March issue of Car and Driver.

Lap Time: 2:55.6

Class: LL2 | Base: $54,095 | As-Tested: $58,865
Power and Weight: 382 hp • 3341 lb • 8.7 lb/hp
Tires: Michelin Pilot Super Sport; F: 255/35ZR-19 (96Y), R: 275/35ZR-19 (100Y)

Often overshadowed by the “it’s just a BMW” stigma, the Supra is actually superior to the BMW Z4 on which it’s based: better balance and control feel, relatively lightweight, and, unlike the BMW Z4, available with a terrific manual transmission. In theory, the manual should be a lap-time penalty, and the data shows our by-hand gearchanges losing some time to the automatic’s quick shifts. But we still found more straight-line speed in this year’s Supra (145.5 mph versus 144.3 for the auto), partly aided by favorable 40-degree morning temperatures. The tall gearing and the engine’s wide powerband limited time-sapping upshifts to a mere five per lap.

As for how this Supra found nearly four seconds compared with the previous automatic—for example, summoning another 11.5-mph average in the uphill esses—well, we won’t pretend the minor suspension-tuning changes for 2023 can entirely explain it, and the previous pilot can’t defend himself, as he’s no longer employed here. The Supra does work its rear tires hard, and they get greasy with successive hot laps. Before they get too hot, the grip is staggering. Every car that beat the Supra’s 1.04 g’s through Turn 1 this year rolled on track-focused tires. The brakes held up well over three days of lapping. Body motions are a touch squishy in the esses, likely a penalty for the car’s friendly ride quality on the street.

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