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Toyota's new GT Concept previews the upcoming, V8-powered Lexus LFR, with Haas F1 racers Ollie Bearman and Esteban Ocon giving it the seal of approval during the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
The likely spiritual successor to the Lexus LFA supercar – the 2026 Lexus LFR – has been given the seal of approval by Haas F1 racers during its appearance at the 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed in both road-going and track-only guises.
Officially known as the Toyota GT Concept and Toyota GT Racing Concept, the camouflaged cars made their first public appearance at last weekend's event in the United Kingdom, with Ollie Bearman and Esteban Ocon behind the wheel, ahead of its likely debut in 2026.
Under the bonnet, the Lexus LFR is expected to feature a twin-turbocharged V8 petrol engine delivering as much as 670kW, likely paired with an electric motor.
Esteban Ocon told Motorsport.com the GT concept was "a lot of fun" and a "fantastic car to drive".
"I got a chance to drive the race car yesterday and Ollie was driving the road car," Ocon said. "We swapped today so got a bit of the feel, a bit of more comfort this morning than yesterday."
"But honestly, it's incredibly fast, incredibly capable, and a big thank you to Toyota for trusting us driving these beasts today.
"Because every time we meet with the Toyota guys, it's a surprise, and there's more coming for me today."
Ollie Bearman added the "GT is definitely a bit faster" than the road-going model "but both [are] amazing cars in their own right".
"[The GT] car is really more suited to a track like this. You know, in F1, we're not really pushing. We have a few too many horsepower and missing a bit of rubber – let's say at the rear tyres – to push. But with the GT car, it really – that track comes alive, and I really, really enjoyed it.
"It was the first time I actually pushed around Goodwood, and I really, really had fun."
Toyota has returned to Formula One after 15 years with a technical partnership with the Haas team, which will see its engineers assist with the development of the F1 cars – but the team will continue to use Ferrari-supplied engines and components.
The upcoming supercar has reportedly been in development for four years, and was first previewed by the Toyota GT GT3 Concept revealed at the Tokyo Auto Salon in 2022, while a similar concept from Lexus – the Electrified Sport – debuted in 2021.
It is expected to use an aluminium and carbon-fibre structure, while a glimpse of its cabin at Goodwood revealed red carbon-fibre racing seats, a large infotainment touchscreen, and piano keys below the touchscreen for shortcut controls.
More details on the 2026 Lexus LFR and its GT3 racing version will be shared closer to its expected debut next year, 14 years after the final Lexus LFA was manufactured.
Jordan is a motoring journalist based in Melbourne with a lifelong passion for cars. He has been surrounded by classic Fords and Holdens, brand-new cars, and everything in between from birth, with his parents’ owning an automotive workshop in regional Victoria. Jordan started writing about cars in 2021, and joined the Drive team in 2024.
