What happens when a 1990s Subaru engine gets a second life on a modern Super GT grid? For 2026 the answer is loud, low and boxer‑shaped.
Subaru used the Tokyo Auto Salon to confirm that its No. 61 BRZ GT300 will swap the familiar EJ20 turbo four for a newly developed 3.0‑liter horizontally‑opposed six‑cylinder twin‑turbo. The headline is eyebrow‑raising on its own; even more so once you learn the new motor traces its roots to the EG33 that powered the Subaru SVX in the early 1990s. Subaru says the EG33 was used as a base and then reworked into a purpose‑built racing twin‑turbo unit rather than simply shoehorning an old road engine into a race car.
Why the change matters
The move signals more than a parts‑bin nostalgia trip. Increasing displacement and adding two cylinders should give the BRZ GT300 a broader, stronger pull out of slow corners — exactly the kind of tractable torque that helps in GT300’s mixed‑traffic, BoP‑balanced sprint and endurance races. A boxer‑six also preserves Subaru’s trademark low center of gravity, which the team believes will keep the BRZ’s cornering strengths intact while improving driveability and tire life over a stint.
Subaru reportedly ran the new unit in a mule car during an entrants’ association test at Motegi last October, and the team has kept the driver lineup unchanged: Takuto Iguchi and Hideki Yamauchi will pilot the car, with Shunji Okumoto as reserve. R&D Sport remains the operator, Masahiro Ozawa continues as general manager, and while Subaru didn’t officially confirm tires, Dunlop rubber is expected to remain in play.
A curious revival
The EG33 left production in 1996 with the SVX, so resurrecting that engine family three decades later is unusual — but not without precedent in motorsport. Manufacturers sometimes rebuild or evolve older architectures for racing because proven geometry, packaging and character can be a fast route to a competitive race motor. Subaru’s engineers have reworked the architecture into a 3.0‑liter twin‑turbo race engine rather than dropping a straight EG33 into the chassis, which explains why output figures are still being held close to the vest.
For fans, there’s a visceral appeal: boxer‑sixes have a distinctive, throaty note and a different power delivery compared with turbo four‑cylinders. Expect the new BRZ to sound and feel distinct from its recent iterations.
Where this fits with Subaru’s programs
The engine swap is part of a broader motorsport push. Subaru revamped the BRZ’s aerodynamics for 2025 and despite some flashes of pace — including a pair of runner‑up finishes at Suzuka and Motegi — an engine problem late in the Fuji race cost Iguchi and Yamauchi a likely victory. The new powerplant is a clear signal that Subaru is chasing its first GT300 title since 2021.
Beyond SUPER GT, Subaru’s works efforts continue at the Nürburgring 24 and in Super Taikyu. The NBR Challenge WRX program will run an upgraded entry with ambitions beyond class wins, while Super Taikyu’s ST‑Q effort will use a separate horizontally‑opposed four‑cylinder turbo based on the Performance‑B STI concept and run on ENEOS low‑carbon gasoline.
This return to classic boxer DNA even feeds the broader Subaru fandom — remember the gymkhana theatrics of the Brataroo? That same appetite for quirky, characterful builds keeps interest high among grassroots and show scenes alike as seen when Travis Pastrana’s Brataroo made headlines.
There’s also a trickle‑down effect in the performance world: people paying attention to engine swaps and forced induction kits across makes will nod at Subaru’s choice, the same culture that lifts interest in aftermarket projects such as the SEMA‑to‑showroom Maverick turbo kit and Raptor supercharger offerings that are going on sale.
Subaru hasn’t indicated any plans to bring a road‑car boxer‑six back into showrooms — this is a racing exercise for now — but the announcement gives enthusiasts something tangible to talk about beyond speculative concept renders. On track, the real test will be whether the twin‑turbo flat‑six translates into consistent race pace and reliability across a full SUPER GT season. If the past is any guide, the BRZ won’t be shy about reminding everyone it still loves to hang on through a fast corner.
Sources: Subaru announcements and team briefings at the Tokyo Auto Salon, with in‑series testing reported at Motegi.