Erik Benedikt - Apex Autoworks Founder

With over 17 years of combined professional, competitive, and personal automotive experience, Erik Benedikt blends the discipline of an OEM technician with the creative drive of a grassroots builder. From a self-built 760whp Supra to leading Toyota’s internal R&D race team, Erik has consistently turned passion into performance—on track and off.

Credentials Snapshot

  • NASA TT3 Regional Champion | Multiple Class Wins & Podiums NASA ST3, WRL GTO

  • WRL GTO Team Captain, Driver, & Development Lead

  • NASA, PCA, Toyota S1 Certified Driving Instructor

  • Nürburgring Nordschleife Experience (F82 & G82 M4, A45 AMG)

  • 10+ years at Toyota R&D | Powertrain & Vehicle Dynamics

The Formative Years – Building the Builder

From a young age, Erik was designing, engineering, and creating. At 12, he built a motorbike from a leaf blower engine and an old bicycle frame. By 7th grade, he was prototyping a full tubular go-kart using PVC to iteratively test his designs. At 16, cars became the next canvas—working at a local auto shop and restoring a 1974 Bricklin SV-1 with his father. These early projects laid the foundation for a lifelong pursuit of performance and mechanical mastery.

The A80 Toyota Supra project—launched in 2011—was Erik’s first full-scale, self-led build. Starting from a bare shell, he painted the car in a home-built booth, developed the powertrain, fabricated the exhaust & fuel system, wired the EFI & Body, and hand-assembled every other component. The Supra became more than a car—it was a testbed, a teacher, and a proving ground through years of drifting, drag, and time attack events. That one platform taught Erik how to build, how to drive, and how to think like a developer—skills that would carry him into professional vehicle engineering.

OEM Experience & Racing Evolution

In 2015, Erik joined Toyota North America R&D, bringing his grassroots experience into one of the world’s top OEMs. While working in Powertrain Testing, he continued to push himself outside the office—tracking his first Scion FR-S at over 35 events, eventually building an LS2-powered NASA TT3 competition car from the platform. Over four years, he handled every aspect of the build: LS2/T56 Retrofit, Fuel & Wiring, CAN integration, aero, suspension, and more. That hands-on engineering, combined with competitive driving, helped him earn his NASA Race & TT license, become a certified instructor, and win the 2022 Great Lakes TT3 Regional Championship.

These years also included two unforgettable Nürburgring trips—one of which ended with Erik proposing to his wife at Nürburg Castle. As his professional development accelerated, so did his reputation for bridging OEM-grade engineering with real-world performance. In 2022, he transitioned into Toyota’s Vehicle Dynamics group—just before launching the Toyota R&D Racing program in Michigan under his leadership (formerly TAPG Motorsports - Arizona).

As Captain and Lead Driver of Toyota R&D’s endurance race team, Erik developed and led a 35+ person program competing in the World Racing League with a self-built GR Supra. He oversaw vehicle development, team operations, race strategy, and driver coaching—proving that performance and professionalism can come from the inside out.

Key Highlights:
– Podium finishes & Class winner in WRL GTO class - 7 & 8 Hour Endurance Races
– Regular fastest peak & average lap holder
– Team growth from core group to 35+ members
– OEM engineering merged with grassroots grit

Toyota R&D Racing – Passion-Driven, Performance-Proven

APEX is Erik’s latest venture, designed to take the best of what’s worked—OEM quality, real-world experience, and relentless execution—and bring it to clients, collaborators, and future racers. From vehicle builds to coaching, content, and race support, APEX is focused on high-quality, high-integrity performance development.

Apex Autoworks – The Next Chapter

Let’s Connect!

I’m seeking aligned partners, collaborators, and opportunities to expand this mission. If you value high integrity, strong execution, and a relentless passion for performance, I’d love to connect.