BJR navigating Toyota learning curve with Walkinshaw TWG

Brad Jones has hailed the "fantastic" relationship between his team and Walkinshaw TWG Racing, as the new Toyota program continues to gain momentum.

The Supra has six podiums through four rounds in 2026, albeit all at the hand of homologation team WTWGR.

WTWGR and BJR had it all to do in the off-season, building new cars, getting mileage on engines, and ensuring their drivers had the tools necessary to get up to speed.

Brad Jones Racing led the Supra fleet in the very first race, with Andre Heimgartner bursting out of the blocks in Sydney with a brilliant eighth on debut. However, he would need 12 more races to match that result, with Cameron Hill's seventh in Melbourne BJR's best finish through 13 starts.

Despite some early body blows — headlined by Heimgartner's engine failure in Race 2 — Supras filled the top 10 in the Sydney finale, offering hope for both teams to make early inroads. However, it has been the Ryan Wood show since, the Kiwi winning in Taupō and nearly taking out the Jason Richards Trophy.

BJR has yet to make a similar impact, but WTWGR CEO Bruce Stewart was pleased with the relationship between the two teams, saying in Christchurch: "It's a great relationship, we hug each other tight.

"I feel like we have got five cars in the game. I watch where those guys are going as well. The relationship is great.

"Brad is a hardcore racer. He knows his stuff. Andre was really quick in Sydney, the first race.

"It is very collaborative and we keep working together."

On the other side of the fence, BJR is waiting for its moment in the sun with its new Supras, although team owner Jones remains realistic amid the development curve.

“The relationship with Walkinshaw is very good. I think it's fantastic. They're really helpful,” Jones told Supercars.com.

The next box to tick is engine reliability, which came to a head with Wood's heartbreaking DNF in the Christchurch finale. Jones, however, made concessions given the infancy of the Toyota program.

"We're trying to work together on a number of things. The engines are their baby. Some of the stuff we know about, but it's just a work in progress," Jones continued.

“At the end of last season when we had Camaros, we lost a couple of engines. So, it’s not something that's linked to a new manufacturer. Everything's brand new, obviously there's going to be teething issues."

Wood is the only Toyota driver in provisional Finals contention, with reigning champion Chaz Mostert just outside the 10. Heimgartner is 13th, but is already 162 points behind 10th. Hill is 15th, and Macauley Jones 19th.

When asked about his team's season to date, Brad Jones replied: “You're always wanting more, but we're learning as we go along. It’s not been terrible by any means. Obviously it would always be nice to be a little bit better, but we're going along and we're learning."

A happy hunting ground is coming at a good time. The next stop in Tasmania has been kind to BJR — it has reached the podium in every visit in the Gen3 era, courtesy of Heimgartner (2023) and Bryce Fullwood (2024 and 2025).

However, after WTWGR reaped the rewards of two slow speed circuits in New Zealand, the Supra engine will be put to the test at the 'point and shoot' Tasmania circuit, which is essentially two long straights bookended by three big braking zones.

When asked what it takes to move up the grid, Jones replied: “Just hard work. We're all contributing as much as we can and we’re just beavering away at all the things that we can to make every post a winner," Jones said.

“Every driver has a different engineer this year, so it's about finding that balance and getting the relationship as strong as it can be.

"And obviously we've got a different manufacturer this year, so that’s another thing that needs to be worked through.

“Andre, Cam and Macca have all been racing for a long time, so they bring a lot of experience.”

Track action commences at Symmons Plains on Friday May 22.