Apart from granting the ability to skip through multiple continents in the span of a few hours, the 'no-holds-barred' quality of simulation racing has always held another precious promise: It unlocks access (in some form) to cars we'd only dreaming of affording, and one-off or track specials even money can't buy. 

Ardent Gran Turismo fans are probably more than well-acquainted with the dizzying extent of automotive legends the series has to offer, but those of us who are less immersed in Polyphony Digital's virtual world may not share the same depth of knowledge. 

As such, we're running through the six cars that feature in the seven global qualifier stages of the GAZOO Racing GT Cup 2022 to celebrate its return to Singapore - including Toyota's trio of hallowed GR cars, and track stars that both reach into the marque's past and celebrate its present.

Toyota GR Supra 

Grandiosely reintroduced after a painful, nearly two-decade wait, the A90 - or A91 - Supra (we're sticking with Toyota numbering convention) is one of the three road cars that continues its presence in the GT Cup. 

Between the two turbocharged engines the GR Supra has gotten since its launch, the more manic B58 3.0-litre inline-six (rather than the B48 2.0-litre inline-four) is the one featured in the virtual series. 

However, Gran Turismo 7 follows the 14% power bump unveiled in the 2021 model year, with which the rear-wheel driven car manages an incredible 377bhp thanks in large part to a new dual-branch exhaust manifold with six, rather than two ports. And although a six-speed manual transmission was unveiled for the GR Supra to much fanfare earlier this year, it appears that sim drivers for the GT Cup will find the original eight-speed automatic transmission mated with the engine. Zero to 100km/h is in the ballpark of just four seconds as a result. 

Toyota GR 86

The latest (but no longer brand-new) member of the roadgoing GR-pack is unfortunately one car we've only been able to enjoy in virtual reality thus far. 

Whether it's homologation delays or supply chain disruptions that have yet to be fixed, there's still no clear indication as to when the GR 86 will be officially launched in Singapore. But reviews of the car abroad have been glowing - the old car's 'torque dip' has apparently been fixed - and Toyota/Subaru's joint decision to keep the engine naturally aspirated was well-lauded by fans of the model. 

The car only comes with a 2.4-litre, four-cylinder boxer engine producing 232bhp, and in contrast to the GR Supra, the virtual series held locally opts for the six-speed manual transmission with the 86, rather than the automatic. Worth noting is that with a stick-shifter, the coupe becomes the lightest among the roadgoing trio here in-game, tipping the scales at just 1,270kg. 

Toyota GR Yaris

Arguably the most charming and unique of the production-car pack, the GR Yaris differentiates itself from the GR Supra and GR 86 not just silhouette-wise, but also with its setup.

The car's 1.5-litre, three-cylinder engine may be the smallest here in capacity, but its turbo, as well as other optimisations to its air intake and exhaust system, gives it more power than the GR 86's naturally aspirated boxer unit, and peak torque of 370Nm arrives at 3,200rpm in-game. If we pretend that the front-wheel drive, CVT-fitted 'RS' doesn't exist - and we usually do - the no-nonsense hot hatch also comes with a delightful six-speed manual transmission as standard. 

Furthermore, with its roots firmly planted within the World Rally Championship, the GR Yaris comes with four-wheel rather than rear-wheel drive to tackle all manner of road conditions. The result of these various purpose-driven constituent parts, pieced together, is a driving experience genuinely distinguished from that of its siblings. 

Toyota GR010 Hybrid 

It takes quite a special car to make the trio of GR siblings thus far look tame - but then the Toyota GR010 Hybrid (which made its virtual debut in Gran Turismo 7) is no ordinary machine. 

Toyota says its hybrid hypercar was developed using "powerful Computational Fluid Dynamics software and wind tunnel testing", and since the GR010 Hybrid was built to replace the TS050 in the World Endurance Championships, it looks exactly the part with its flattened, aerodynamic shape, and rounded, smooth surfaces. 

Due to new regulations set by the FIA for 2021, power output for Toyota's hybrid track star is capped at 670bhp (due to FIA regulations), yet look closer and you'll realise that it's capable of far more than that. 

A 3.5-litre, twin-turbo V6 already sends exactly 670bhp to the front wheels, but this also works in tandem with a lithium-ion battery, which can deliver another 268bhp to the rear axle, to give the GR010 Hybrid four-wheel drive. To maximise efficiency, the car's hybrid system then varies the amount of power drawn from each source at any given moment. 

When it debuted in January 2021, the GR010 Hybrid also helped to jump-start Toyota GAZOO Racing's ninth season in the WEC. It's quickly proven a worthy successor to the TS050; Toyota's two teams raced to a one-two finish with it just recently, in the 90^th 24 Hours of Le Mans.

SF19 Super Formula (Dallara SF19 chassis fitted with Toyota-developed powertrain)

Furthest down the line as the most hardcore of the cars driven during the TGR GT Cup is yet another machine you can normally find only on the track: The open-wheel SF19 Super Formula car. 

Here's a slight caveat before you proceed - more than 10 different teams contest the Japanese Super Formula championship in real life, but the teams' cars share exactly the same Dallara SF19-chassis, and are all fitted with a 2.0-litre, turbocharged inline-four with the same power output. In turn, these powertrains are only developed by two manufacturers: Honda, and of course, Toyota.

Toyota's version is called the R14A, and gives sim racers up to 639bhp to work with in-game. At just 660kg, the SF19 Super Formula car can accelerate to 97km/h from standstill in just 3.25 seconds as a result, and reach a top speed of 310km/h. 

Toyota Supra GT500 '97 (Castrol TOM'S)

Few cars continue to be held up in Toyota's history with the amount of reverence heaped upon the A80 Supra. But beyond its unmistakeable bug-eyed face/circular taillights and highly tuneable engine, the model's legacy was also built in large part by its success around Japanese race tracks.

Already channelling the newfound curves of the nineties effortlessly in stock form, the sports car's bedroom-poster status was further solidified in this track-special that duked it out in the Japanese Grand Touring Championship (JGTC). 

Even today, the GT500 Supra is fully capable of weakening knees and setting hearts racing with its widened and lowered body, and white-red-green livery. For this, we have to thank the perfect confluence of collaborators at the time: Toyota's sponsor, oil conglomerate Castrol, as well as its co-developer of the track car, Tokyo-based racing team and tuner Tachi Oiwa Motor Sport.

Interestingly, instead of the indestructible, bottomless 2JZ inline-six that has become synonymous with the A80 Supra, the Castrol TOM'S Supra was fitted with a turbocharged inline-four - developed from the 3S-GT seen in Toyota' crop of rallying entrants back then - presumably to save weight. In its particular state of tune for the JGTC, this was capable of producing a whopping 493bhp (in line with the GT500's power cap), and 600Nm of torque.

Despite the Castrol TOM'S Supra actually debuting in 1995, 1997 holds a special place in Toyota's heart, since it marked the year that it took both the driver's and team's titles in the championship. Interest in the racing icon was also revived a couple of years back when news broke of its serendipitous rediscovery in an old storage warehouse in Japan's Chugoku region. In the trusted hands of TOM's, the icon has apparently since been painstakingly restored to full glory.

*Power figures mentioned may differ from cars in-game.

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Toyota GR Supra: Everything you should know about it

Toyota GR Yaris: What you should know about it