What We Learn on the Track, We Engineer Into Our Vehicles

Toyota City, Japan, February 4, 2014—Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) announces that its community-based motorsports activities through Lexus Racing and Toyota Racing—aimed to bring more joy to more people through automobiles—will continue in various locations around the world in 2014.

 

Toyota views motorsports as an ideal medium for conveying the anticipation and excitement of driving cars, and through GAZOO Racing will strive to expand the reach of motorsports to attract a wide range of car enthusiasts. Toyota hopes to use these activities to hone its people, automobiles and technologies, and to use the experience and personal expertise to develop ever-better cars.

 

Toyota’s 2014 motorsports activities will include participation in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) and its legendary Le Mans 24-hour race, the NASCAR racing series and the Super GT and Super Formula championships.

 

GAZOO Racing will help promote grass-roots motorsports by conducting GAZOO Racing “Waku Doki” circuit events and the GAZOO Racing 86/BRZ Race, and by supporting the TRD Rally Challenge and other races to increase opportunities for people to enjoy cars. It also plans to participate again in the 24 Hours Nürburgring endurance race.

 

Toyota will continue to work with its affiliates around the world to promote activities for consumers to see, learn about and experience motorsports, thereby bringing the joy of cars to an even wider audience and contributing to car culture. Going forward, it will also increase its wide range of motorsports and other initiatives to better respond to dedicated car enthusiasts everywhere.

 

 

- 30 -

 

Outline of Toyota’s 2014 Motorsports Activities

 

1. Lexus Racing and Toyota Racing

 

Since 2012, Toyota has been racing its TS030 Hybrid, equipped with a full racing hybrid system, in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC). Participating in all eight races and with two wins last year, Toyota plans to enter all races this year with two new TS040 Hybrid vehicles designed to meet changes in this year’s vehicle rules. Toyota hopes to achieve its first win in this year’s Le Mans 24-hour race, the third race in the WEC series.

 

In the United States, Toyota will continue to compete in all three categories of the NASCAR racing series. It will make its eighth consecutive-year appearance in the Sprint Cup Series, the pinnacle of NASCAR racing, with the aim of taking the Drivers’ Championship title for the first time.

 

In Japan, the new Lexus “RC F” coupe will enter the GT500 class of the Super GT series. Lexus Racing is committed to retaining the title it claimed last year under a six-team structure. For Japanese Super Formula racing series, new RI4A engines have been added this season to help Toyota Racing reclaim the driver’s title.

 

Already this year, the Toyota “Land Cruiser 200” came in first and second place in the production vehicle division of the Dakar Rally in South America. The two vehicles were entered by Toyota subsidiary Toyota Auto Body with Toyota support.

 

1) FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) – Toyota Racing

 

Toyota will compete in the eight FIA-sanctioned world endurance championship races continued from 2012. Highlights of the series include: Le Mans 24-hour race (June 14-15), the third race of the series; and the Fuji 6 Hour race (October 11-12), the sixth race of the series.

 

This year, Toyota Racing plans to race two new TS040 Hybrid vehicles from Toyota Motorsport GmbH (TMG). Toyota is currently applying to field two vehicles in all eight races. All vehicles will be equipped with Michelin tires.

 

The THS-R (Toyota Hybrid System—Racing) powertrain, developed at Toyota’s Higashi-Fuji Technical Center in Japan, incorporates a new hybrid system equipped with a new V8 engine and front and rear motor/generators to better power all four wheels to meet changes in vehicle rules this year. In the future, Toyota will be able to utilize the advanced hybrid technologies obtained from these activities in mass-production hybrid vehicles.

 

FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) Racing Teams

 

 

Note: Starting this year, Mike Conway (UK) has been added as a test and reserve driver.

 

2) NASCAR – Toyota Racing

 

Toyota will once again compete in all the NASCAR racing series races with support from Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. (TMS) and Toyota Racing Development, U.S.A. (TRD-USA). Like last year, Toyota will enter a Toyota “Camry” in the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series, and a Toyota “Tundra” in the Camping World Truck Series. All vehicles in every race category will be fitted with Goodyear tires.

 

NASCAR National Series Racing Teams

 

 

3) Dakar Rally – Toyota Racing

 

Toyota supported Toyota Auto Body, Co., Ltd.’s entry of two Toyota “Land Cruiser 200” vehicles, which came in first and second place in the production vehicle division of the 2014 Dakar Rally held this month.

 

 

¹Includes gasoline and diesel classes

²Toyota Auto Body employee

 

4) Super GT – Lexus Racing and Toyota Racing

 

In the top category of Japanese car racing, Lexus Racing will compete in the GT500 class with the new Lexus “RC F” with a 2-liter four-cylinder RI4AG direct-injection gasoline turbo engine to meet changes in vehicle specification rules this year. Support is provided by Toyota Technocraft Co., Ltd.

 

Toyota Racing will compete in the GT300 class with a Toyota “Prius” hybrid.

 

Super GT Racing Teams

 

 

5) Japanese Championship Super Formula –Toyota Racing

 

For the top category of Japanese formula car races, Toyota has developed a new two-liter four-cylinder RI4A direct-injection gasoline turbo engine to meet changes in technical rules this year, which it is supplying for 11 vehicles in seven teams. All vehicles will be fitted with Bridgestone tires.

 

Japanese Championship Super Formula Racing Teams

 

 

6) Driver Development in Japan – Toyota Racing

 

1) Toyota Young Drivers Program (TDP) This program is aimed at cultivating young drivers who hope to compete in top racing categories throughout the world. It is dedicated to identifying new talent and supporting participants to improve their driving and racing skills.

 

List of Trainee Toyota Young Drivers Program Drivers for 2014

 

 

*Pole position, including fastest race lap time

 

2014 Drivers Who Participated in Toyota Young Drivers Program

 

 

2) Formula Toyota Racing School in Japan (FTRS) The Formula Toyota Racing School (FTRS) is a three-day, two-night program that covers everything from racing basics to participation in simulated races. The school provides a way for Toyota to conduct driving education and promote the expansion of its motorsports foundation through the discovery and cultivation of Japanese racing drivers able to compete in top racing categories around the world. A tryout is held among the most outstanding participants with future prospects to select a driver who will receive a scholarship for the following year. (2014 FTRS schedule is to be determined.)

 

3) Japanese Formula 4 (F4) Toyota will support young Japanese drivers participating in Japanese F4, the entry-class category comprising two series (east and west) with nine competitions and twelve races.

 

7) Other Support Activities in Japan – Toyota Racing

 

1) Development support for FIA Formula 4 Through Toyota Tecnocraft Co., Ltd., Toyota will develop vehicle bodies and engines in line with new rules for FIA Formula 4 to promote grass-roots motor sports and support Japan’s auto-racing industry.

 

2. GAZOO Racing

 

Toyota, through GAZOO Racing, will provide even more opportunities during 2014 for people to enjoy driving cars.

 

GAZOO Racing will roll out a range of driving experiences and motorsports events tailored to individual driving skills where the public will be able to participate with their own (production model) vehicles. It will hold a nationwide program of events including GAZOO Racing “Waku Doki” circuit events, while also providing a full range of support for beginner race drivers through the GAZOO Racing 86/BRZ Race in Japan.

 

As part of initiatives to develop ever-better cars, GAZOO Racing will again participate in the 24 Hours Nürburgring endurance race that it first entered in 2007, as well as providing training for “automotive seasoning” personnel, and continuing to commercialize GRMN, G’s and other models that enable car enthusiasts to experience the joy of driving.

 

1) Car-enjoyment activities in Japan

 

1) Venues to enjoy automobiles Throughout the year, GAZOO Racing will link regions and circuits around Japan to provide venues and a full range of driving experiences for people to operate and enjoy driving cars.

 

i) GAZOO Racing “Waku Doki” circuit events and sports driving lessons In addition to providing the public with a deeper understanding of basic vehicle operations, GAZOO Racing is delivering programs designed for beginners to easily and safely enjoy cars and give them a taste of circuit racing. GAZOO Racing will hold more than 20 Regular Circuit Racing Programs around Japan in 2014. In addition, it will launch a new program of activities at Mega Web in Tokyo and other accessible venues, enabling people to easily experience full braking and slalom driving. GAZOO Racing will also offer sports driving lessons at circuits around Japan for drivers wanting to improve their proficiency in sports driving or to take the next step and compete in events such as the 86/BRZ Race.

 

 GAZOO Racing “Waku Doki” Circuit Events and Sports Driving Lesson Schedule

 

 

Note: Other events will be announced (in Japanese language) on the GAZOO Racing website (http://gazooracing.com/) when finalized. TMC plans to hold regular “Waku Doki” (Full Braking and Slalom Experience) circuit events at Mega Web.

 

Guide to Waku Doki Events, Programs and Lessons

 

a. “Waku Doki” Circuit Event (Full Braking and Slalom Experience) Participants experience vehicle behavior

b. “Waku Doki” Basic Circuit Racing Program Beginner-level circuit experience for 30 to 60 minutes

c. “Waku Doki” Regular Circuit Racing Program Full circuit driving experience

d. Sports Driving Lessons Next step for competing in events such as the 86/BRZ Race

 

ii) GAZOO Racing 86/BRZ Race and GAZOO Racing Netz Cup Vitz Race one-make races (Organized by the Toyota Cars Race Association)

 

GAZOO Racing will hold races for street-legal cars. On top of an additional three races this year—bringing the total number of races in the GAZOO Racing 86/BRZ Race competition to ten—there will be more opportunities for those not selected in the preliminary finals to still participate in the final race.

 

GAZOO Racing 86/BRZ Race Schedule