Why Jones decided to make BJR Toyota switch

Supercars team owner Brad Jones says joining Toyota from 2026 was an "opportunity that I couldn’t miss."

Jones' eponymous Supercars team, Brad Jones Racing, was confirmed last week alongside Walkinshaw Andretti united in Toyota's 2026 stable.

BJR will field four GR Supra Supercars next season, taking Toyota's fleet to six courtesy of the two-car effort from homologation team WAU.

WAU and Toyota's initial announcement came in September, leading to eight months of speculation as to which team would also race Supras in 2026.

With Team 18 confirmed as General Motors' homologation team in April, BJR emerged as the frontrunner.

Speaking in Tasmania, Jones, whose team has raced GM machinery since 2008, admitted the change marked a big decision.

“I’m a creature of habit so change is not always easy,” Jones explained on the broadcast.

“Once I met with the [Toyota] guys and spent some time understanding them, they took me through their vision, it seemed very clear this was a great opportunity that I couldn’t miss.”

BJR has commenced work on its first Supra chassis, and will also convert existing Camaros to Supras.

The Supra body and Toyota Supercars engine are both currently in development, with WAU planning to have its first Toyota Supercar on track later this year.

"It’s a lot of hard work for the guys on the floor because we’re going to change all the bodies on the cars and we’re building new cars,” Jones added.

The deal also reconnects BJR with WAU, following a deal that saw the Albury squad run Walkinshaw-built Commodores.

“It’s very early days but the very brief discussions that we’ve had talking about where the project is going and where they’re at with it has been really positive,” Jones said of the WAU ties.

“I’ve had a relationship with Walkinshaw in the past and I think it’ll be fine. I’m excited, the fact there’s two teams, and I think the Toyota will be up there and thereabouts.

“We need to earn our stripes, there’s going to be a lot of work to do, but it’s an exciting time for the group.”