A dominator of classes during the first three decades of the Bathurst 500/1000, it wasn’t until the late-1980s until Toyota fielded an outright contender.
Winners of multiple classes in giant-killing Corona, Corolla and Celica models, it wasn’t until the 1980s when the Toyota Team Australia factory squad was established.
Beginning its journey in 1984, Toyota Team Australia continually surprised through its performances in Corollas including multiple top 10 finishes highlighted by a ninth place outright in 1988.
The next step for the Toyota Team Australia attack was an outright tilt at the Bathurst 1000, with a TOMS-sourced MA70 Supra Turbo forming the basis.
Hampered by its heavy weight and an underpowered engine compared to its opposition, the MA70 was uncompetitive in Group A compared to the Sierras, Commodores and Skylines competing for outright honours at the time.
Long-time Toyota driver John Smith was handed the responsibility of driving the MA70 Supra in selected Australian Touring Car Championship rounds, but the focus was on the endurance races at Sandown and Bathurst.
Its best result was a fifth in the 1990 Sandown 500, but outside of this it was less than impressive.
Retiring on debut in 1989, the Supra did likewise the next year when the Toyota Team Australia was wound up at the end of the season.
Smith took on the ownership of the Supra and scored 18th at Bathurst in 1991 before it was retired from competition.
In recent years, the Supra has competed regular in the Heritage Touring Cars and has undergone a restoration under new ownership.