The fastest lap recorded by a street-tuned MkIV Supra might not be everything you think. Rather than being a frightening mess in the corners with no traction, horrible throttle response, and overheating brakes, this understated Supra is clean, fast, and predictable; breaking from the unruly reputation these cars have.

The owner, Simon Hart, has been something of a YouTube racing hero, thanks to his popular videos showing him chasing down much faster Radicals at both the Nürburgring and Silverstone.  With plenty of quick hares to chase around the Green Hell, he’s certainly figured out the line, the areas to tread carefully, and the right amount of aggression one needs to show at this complicated course.

He’s also modified the car accordingly. First: the footwork. The Supra’s suspension has been changes with new arms for improved geometry, while Nitron R1 shocks and Whiteline provide just the right amount of bump and roll for the pockmarked Nürburgring. The Advan wheels measure 18X9 inches in front and 18X10 inches in the rear, and are wrapped in ex-BTCC tires. Underneath them, massive Brembo GT brakes haul the Supra to a stop repeatedly.

Photo credit: flatout.br

That foundation is built upon with a well-tuned 2JZ-GTE. Carillo pistons, Tomei rods, Whifbitz 264-degree cams, a ported head, and ARP studs compose the motor. TheBorgWarner S366 turbocharger providing the boost is mated to an HKS manifold and wastegate. Two Walbro pumps feed the thirsty mill with fuel through the 1000cc Bosch injectors.

The fairly large ball-bearing turbocharger spools quickly for its size, though its best around 600-700 horsepower. To ensure a minimum of wheel spin, Hart’s programmed the Syvecs ECU to change boost settings on the fly. With the touch of a little red button on the right side of the wheel, he can switch from ~14 psi to ~27 psi, or alternate between roughly 500 and 680 horsepower. This simple trick, combined with a Tomei differential and a staggered wheel setup, ensures clean acceleration out of the corners. Even on full boost, the power delivery is smooth and manageable.

Threading the needle through Kesselchen (“Little Valley”) at some 150 miles an hour.

A stripped interior, Recaro Profi seats, a Cusco cage, oil coolers, and a slew of carbon goodies complete the track-toy-treatment. Clearly, the APR wing in the rear, as well as the canards and splitter up front, provide the car with all the stability needed at high speeds. Look at how Hart crests the brow prior to the daunting Flugplatz (which literally translates to “The Flying Place”). The Supra is settled, happy to accept throttle, and doing 115 miles an hour effortlessly (1:15 on the onboard timer).

Footage with speed overlay:

Comfortable with the dimensions of the car, he also has no qualms passing another through Fuchrohre: the bumpy, downhill section where there’s hardly space for two cars (1:54 on the lap timer). His relaxed steering and throttle inputs suggest he’s comfortable with the benign character of his Toyota. In fact, it rarely breaks away at either end.

A hint of wheel spin over rising crests, and a little understeer while climbing the corner called Brunchen 2 (5:54 in the onboard footage) are the most dramatically this composed car behaves throughout the entire lap. It’s a neutral car, which, even when driven conservatively, marks a 7:18 BTG lap with some traffic. With just a few more suspension tweaks, a pro driver, and some more aero, there’s little doubt in my mind this would go under seven minutes.

Not bad for a grand tourer nearing its 30th birthday.