Track-friendly upgrades?

[Mdstx]

Hello fellow Supra enthusiasts. I recently got a 26 Supra MT FE and am working on plans for track-friendly upgrades. I want to start with upgrades which do not significantly diminish the enjoyment of the car on the street. The Supra platform is new to me and I am looking forward to learning about it, how to drive it well on track, and how to maintain it.

I am coming from the NC MX-5 platform and will continue to track my NC MX-5 at some of the more Miata-friendly tracks and events. Initially, I plan to track the Supra at higher speed tracks like COTA, BMP, and WGI.

Below I have outlined some initial upgrades and what I consider to be their relative priorities. I will appreciate constructive input and suggestions from those more experienced with tracking this platform regarding the upgrades, their priorities, and any items I have overlooked which should be a considered a priority.

Thank you for your input.

Cheers,
MDSTX

[After more research, I’ve revised and rearranged my stages. I’m sure they will continue to evolve as my knowledge grows.]

1st Stage
PPF - Too expensive. Will probably do the front bumper cover and the windshield.
Grill guards to protect the radiators - Haven’t found any yet.
SRF brake fluid - Still plan to do.
Track appropriate motor oil - Still plan to do.
Track pads - Ordered G-Loc R12/R10 in stock sizes.
Wheels - Sourced some 19” TE37SL from another member of this forum.
200TW tires - Probably doing my first few track days with Bridgestone RE71RS in 265/35/19 and 285/35/19.
Additional front camber - Will probably get some camber plates and will definitely get a proper track alignment.


2nd Stage
PCI brackets and Race seats;
Harness bar (I like the Hochman harness bar but will probably settle for the Cusco); I should get a roll bar, but I’m not ready to drill holes in my new car.
6-point harnesses;
Coding for non-stock seats

3rd Stage
Added cooling as needed.

4th Stage
Coilovers and RSR Cancellers

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[Gabe]

Lovely. Is kind of what I did. I’m already on Stage 8! Of my build.

Just have not documented the whole thing but planning to.

I added the cooling earlier because Im
In swampy FL and needed it to run the entire summer

https://www.supramkv.com/threads/project-gr-75-build-log-mod-list-and-short-ratings.22449/

the actual list of things the car has:


Based on a 3.0 6 cylinder 2024 base model A91 with B58 six in line engine with ZF 8HP 8-speed automatic transmission



Aero:
-High downforce splitter
-Canards
-Splitter endplates
-Cold air intake
-Fender wheel vents
-Hood louvre
-Side skirts
-Rear spats
-Diffuser
-VX1 rear wing

Engine / Suspension / brakes:
-Turbo cooling plate
-Injen cold air intake
-AA Cat downpipe
-Master Brake cylinder brace
-Steel front brake lines
-MCS TT2 2 way non remote coilovers with Non divorced rear springs
-Vorshlag Camber Plates
-Eibach front sway bar
-Verkline front and rear adjustable arms
-Front brakes cooling ducts
-Hawks DTC 60/30 pads
-Borla dual exhaust
-Blitz front engine strut bars
-Wagner Tuning Manifold + intercooler
-Alignment and 4 corner balance by Breathless Racing

Cabin:
-Zestek quick release steering wheel
-Driver and Passenger Sparco Evo QRT seats
-Sparco 6 point driver and passenger pull up -harness (chasis anchored with backing plates)
-RSR extended mid and rear Roll-bar (welded and -bolted thru and thru)
-777 door Motorsport release straps

Telemetry:
-RaceCapture Track Mk3 Lap timer, Telemetry and Data Logger
-TrailBrake CAN linked external TPMS system
-8 inch tablet display

Media:
-Bumper camera
-Dash Camera
-Rear camera
-POV driver camera
-Driver’s right camera
-Thru wheel camera
-DJI Mic mini Engine and Exhaust microphones

Wheels:
Titan 7S
F: 19x9.5 5x112 +34
R: 19x11 5x112 +40

Tires:
295/35 R19
275/35 R19
Staggered (wet track + street)

Apex
18x10.7 5x112 +38
Squared
Maxxis Victra RC1
275/35 R18 TW100
(Dry track)

Exterior
-Livery:
Toyota "GR Supra Racing Concept" World Premiere
-Front PPF
-Windshield exterior PPF
-carbon fiber mirror caps
-Fall-Line Motorsports front and rear Tow Strap
-RBG Day time running lights
-F1 style 3rd stop

 

[PaulFRDE]

I'm always so shocked how much you guys want to modify your car from day 1, especially for a dual purpose car.

I would recommend:
-brake pads that can do street/track, for instance endless mx87 or ebc bluestuff
-dual purpose tires, for instance goodyear supersport
-in my case sway bars improved the car greatly, but I have a 2022 and never drove a 2026
-alignement, with zero toe in front, also to correct the production alignement if needed
Bonus: camber plates, because destroying front tires gets quickly old

Btw for cooling on track, only brake cooling and the radiator on top of the engine really bring anything it seems.

 

[Gabe]

In my case is a dedicated car for the track weekends. Only gets driven 30 min to the track Friday night and back home on Sunday and normally sits in the garage.

the other consideration for me is that I enjoy the track, but I enjoy more working on the car itself. I have done everything on the car in my garage. Even the welding of the rollbar. And even learned to wrap. So I work on the car, test it and back to the garage to do some more. That’s how I spend my time off

 

[Mdstx]

WOW!!!
Beautiful!!!
After reading your list and your build post I have many questions and a few suggestions.

I run the same Hawks on my MX-5. I’ve preferred PFC pads, but they don’t make pads for the stock NC calipers.

Which upgrades would you prioritize?

I’m in Texas most of the year. So, cooling may need to be a higher priority.

Because outward visibility is so poor in the Supra, and because I’m still becoming familiar with the outside dimensions, more cameras would be lovely. I’ve become spoiled by the cameras in my current and former SUVs. Did you happen to document the process of adding the cameras and did it require drilling and significant disassembly of the interior?

 

[Mdstx]

I'm always so shocked how much you guys want to modify your car from day 1, especially for a dual purpose car.

I would recommend:
-brake pads that can do street/track, for instance endless mx87 or ebc bluestuff
-dual purpose tires, for instance goodyear supersport
-in my case sway bars improved the car greatly, but I have a 2022 and never drove a 2026
-alignement, with zero toe in front, also to correct the production alignement if needed
Bonus: camber plates, because destroying front tires gets quickly old

Btw for cooling on track, only brake cooling and the radiator on top of the engine really bring anything it seems.

Paul I live in the land of the SUV where road surfaces and driver skills are typically quite poor. An SUV is kind of a necessity.

 

[PaulFRDE]

Paul I live in the land of the SUV where road surfaces and driver skills are typically quite poor. An SUV is kind of a necessity.

Wait I didn't even complain about SUVs in my last message, how do you know I don't like them??

 

[Gabe]

Which upgrades would you prioritize?

my advice is always very basic because I’m not that experienced and it may not apply to you. if someone with better experience says something different go with that advice:

1. Safety
- Helmet: invest as much as you think your brain is worth
- brake Fluid: stock brake fluid will boil and you will end up in a ditch
-brake pads: good ones will be dusty and noisy. There are some good middle of the ground compromise.
-alignment

that’s it. Car is great on the track as it is with those mods. Do not change Oil at the dealer. Choose your oil, just open a BRAND NEW thread and ask which one is the better oil and take note of the responses

suspension:
You could be stock. And be totally fine. Suspension mods are expensive. For a good compromise:

-Adjustable springs
-Camber plates
-front sway bar
-front links
-alignment AND 4 corner balancing

if you did that throw in better tires. Car is mostly on the street and /or you are new to tracking: Conti ExtremeContact 02.
You’ve tracked cars and don’t mind dying on the rain: TW200.

from here I could go on and on with an algorithm that gets progressively more expensive and is directed at cars that will only or mostly be on the track. LMK if you want to stay there.

I’m in Texas most of the year. So, cooling may need to be a higher priority

striking a balance between is worth it and it’s too expensive:

-brake cooling ducts
-turbo shield
-differential pebble tray

are you breaking your savings piggy bank?
-Manifold intercooler

The rest of the coolant and engine oil radiators are controversial you may be spending tons and not getting the money back.

 

[Mdstx]

my advice is always very basic because I’m not that experienced and it may not apply to you. if someone with better experience says something different go with that advice:

1. Safety
- Helmet: invest as much as you think your brain is worth
- brake Fluid: stock brake fluid will boil and you will end up in a ditch
-brake pads: good ones will be dusty and noisy. There are some good middle of the ground compromise.
-alignment

that’s it. Car is great on the track as it is with those mods. Do not change Oil at the dealer. Choose your oil, just open a BRAND NEW thread and ask which one is the better oil and take note of the responses

suspension:
You could be stock. And be totally fine. Suspension mods are expensive. For a good compromise:

-Adjustable springs
-Camber plates
-front sway bar
-front links
-alignment AND 4 corner balancing

if you did that throw in better tires. Car is mostly on the street and /or you are new to tracking: Conti ExtremeContact 02.
You’ve tracked cars and don’t mind dying on the rain: TW200.

from here I could go on and on with an algorithm that gets progressively more expensive and is directed at cars that will only or mostly be on the track. LMK if you want to stay there.


striking a balance between is worth it and it’s too expensive:

-brake cooling ducts
-turbo shield
-differential pebble tray

are you breaking your savings piggy bank?
-Manifold intercooler

The rest of the coolant and engine oil radiators are controversial you may be spending tons and not getting the money back.

Lots of good info. Thank you!

I have very little experience with Supras on track, but have over 20 years experience with HPDE and amateur racing (Spec Miata, Spec Boxster, WRL, etc.). I instruct/coach with most clubs. My favorite track group presently is Chin. But many groups host excellent HPDE events all over.

For the Supra my current goal is track-friendly, but not street unfriendly. I have a fully caged NC to satisfy the full race car experience for now.

My goals with this thread are to learn from the experience of others for executing my build and gain an understanding of the weaknesses of the Supra platform so I can address them with my overall goals in mind.

I appreciate your input.

Cheers,
Mike

 

[noogie]

If it were me:
18x10 squared
MCS 1WNR - you’ll want more platform control from the additional grip
Adjustable front bar - easy way to tune mid corner balance
BBK - can never have too much braking capacity
Bucket seats

looking at around 10-15k.

or you can just keep it stock with just fluid and pads.

 

[licklobster]

Tires are the biggest bang/buck.

 

[razorlab]

Since you have the larger calipers, you have a VERY limited selection of track worthy pads to choose from. Tip to help your search: The FE shares the same front calipers as the M240i/M340i/M440i Cooling and Tire package (ZTK) The M550i / 750i / M850i / X3M / X5,7 M40i,M50i also share the same calipers.

Hawk does not have DTC60's for those calipers yet.

You also already have a bit more negative camber than non FE's as the FE use the - camber front hubs. You will need to be careful with 18" wheels as most won't fit over the FE larger brakes.
I would use Endless fluid over SRF

Oil I'm not going to touch as there are endless posts about this and I don't want to awaken the BoomerBlob.

 

[Mdstx]

If it were me:
18x10 squared
MCS 1WNR - you’ll want more platform control from the additional grip
Adjustable front bar - easy way to tune mid corner balance
BBK - can never have too much braking capacity
Bucket seats

looking at around 10-15k.

or you can just keep it stock with just fluid and pads.

Trying to defer a suspension upgrade for a bit. Although I'm mindful how much a good suspension improves the driving experience.

 

[Mdstx]

Since you have the larger calipers, you have a VERY limited selection of track worthy pads to choose from.

You also already have a bit more negative camber than non FE's as the FE use the - camber front hubs.

I would use Endless fluid over SRF

Oil I'm not going to touch as there are endless posts about this and I don't want to awaken the BoomerBlob.

Thanks for your input. I've found many of your posts helpful and informative.

I was wondering about availability of good track brake pads. Planning to touch base with PFC, Hawk, and GLoc to see if they make a pad in the size/shape.

I run SRF in my NC, so it's easier to not add another brake fluid to my garage. That said, what are the benefits of the Endless fluid? I have heard of the brand, but never used any of the products.

As far as more negative camber, I am anxious to get this car on the alignment rack to find out just how much negative camber it can produce on the Factory set up. I am not expecting it to be as much as I would want on track. But we shall see. It may be enough for mostly street/occasional track use.

The great oil debate... LOL It's on every automotive forum. All I will say is that I will certainly run something other than the factory fill on track.

 

[razorlab]

Thanks for your input. I've found many of your posts helpful and informative.

I was wondering about availability of gbrake pads. Planning to touch base with PFC, Hawk, and GLoc to see if they make a pad in the size/shape.

I run SRF in my NC, so it's easier to not add another brake fluid to my garage. That said, what are the benefits of the Endless fluid? I have heard of the brand, but never used any of the products.

As far as more negative camber, I am anxious to get this car on the alignment rack to find out just how much negative camber it can produce on the Factory set up. I am not expecting it to be as much as I would want on track. But we shall see. It may be enough for mostly street/occasional track use.

The great oil debate... LOL It's on every automotive forum. All I will say is that I will certainly run something other than the factory fill on track.

I edited my post to add more information like what other BMWs share the same calipers. Hawk doesn't make DTC60's yet.

Front camber is non adjustable from the factory. Only rear.

For oil, you can look up previous posts/threads of mine. I have had good luck with a certain oil that BoomerBlob would not approve of even though I have 70+ track events, 600whp+, and good oil reports, while he just goes to car shows and sits and looks at his car in his garage.

Most 18" wheels won't fit over the front calipers.

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