This weekend will mark the first time Isabella Robusto has competed in the Toyota GR Cup series in three years, but she might know the spec Toyota GR86 car better than most of her competitors. As a Toyota Racing Development Driver, the 20-year-old helped test and develop the car, and now, she’s returning to show what she knows when the series visits Viriginia International Raceway.
Robusto’s special appearance in the series is possible thanks to Woodfin—Your Home Team and Richmond’s leading whole home services provider. As a company that fosters women in sports, the opportunity to sponsor Robusto in the RVA Graphics Motorsports by Speed Syndicate Toyota was too good to pass up.
“It’s super exciting,” says Robusto of the partnership with Woodfin. “I’m so grateful to be a part of it. Woodfin is an amazing company so getting to represent them is a real honor for me.”
Robusto is currently in her fourth year as a Toyota Development Driver, where she is running the 2025 ARCA series. Among her ARCA accomplishments are a pole position in Kansas and third at the legendary Talladega Motor Speedway, making her the highest-finishing female in history at that track.
The last (and only) time Robusto drove in Toyota GR Cup, which is a single-make spec sports car racing series, was in its inaugural race three years ago at Sonoma Raceway in California.
“I’m excited to get back in the Toyota GR86 again,” Robusto says. “The class is so strong, so I know it’s going to be hard to run up front, so the goal is to be competitive in the top 10. I also want to be the highest-finishing female.”
Robusto has another goal, too, adding she also wants to “beat my brother if possible!”