TOYOTA GAZOO Racing (TGR) focuses on motorsports and engages in activities to offer ever-better cars to our customers, including the development, production and establishment of sales projects for products created from the #racing environment.
The year 2020 was difficult for TGR as numerous motorsports Events were postponed or cancelled. Despite these conditions, thanks to the support of our fans, we won the teams’ and the drivers’ titles in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) and our third consecutive victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. In the FIA World #rally Championship (WRC), TGR won the drivers’ and co-drivers’ championships, while in the #japanesesuperformulachampionship, the teams’ title was achieved. Our quest never ends. In 2021, we will continue to push forward with all of our supporters through these difficult times, delivering the joy and excitement of driving, the energy and sensation of motorsports to a wider audience and engaging in various activities within and outside of Japan.
In addition to the #WEC, #WRC, #japanrallychampionship, #supergt and #japanesesuperformulachampionship that have already been announced, we will also provide new information related to customer motorsports, driver development and ROOKIE #racing.
In the field of customer motorsports, we will offer sales and support for GR Supra GT4 as well as continuing support for the LEXUS RC F GT3 so that more customers can enjoy opportunities to enjoy #racing. In order to develop Japanese drivers who are capable of competing both within and outside of Japan, we will continue to identify and support young drivers. We will also promote activities to open a wider window for everyone. Following on from 2020, this year ROOKIE #racing will participate in the Super Taikyu series with GR models. It will also start participation in #supergt and the #japanesesuperformulachampionship. Keeping our focus on making ever-better cars through motorsports, we will offer feedback to car development based on issues pointed out by privateer teams. Taking into consideration the effects of the global spread of COVID-19, we have decided to cancel our participation in the Nürburgring 24 Hours scheduled for June this year.
Outline of Toyota's 2021 Motorsports Activities1) Customer Motorsportsa) GR Supra GT4
2021 GR Supra GT4 participation (scheduled)
Europe | GT4 European Series, GT4 France, Nürburgring Endurance Series, DTM Trophy, British GT Championship, etc. |
Japan | Super Taikyu Series, etc. |
North America | IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, Pirelli GT4 America, etc. |
b) Lexus RC F GT3
RegionSeriesClassTeamNumberofVehicles
U.S. | IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship | GTD | Vasser Sullivan Racing | 2 |
Japan | SUPER GT | GT300 | K-tunes Racing arto Ping An Team Thailand | 2 |
Super Taikyu Series | ST-X | Apr | 1 | |
Asia | Thailand Super Series | GT3 | Toyota Team Thailand | 1 |
2) Improving cars through motorsports
TeamVehicleDriver
ORC ROOKIE Racing | ROOKIE #racing GR Yaris | Various drivers including Morizo, Yasuhiro Ogura, Masahiro Sasaki, Takamitsu Matsui, Daisuke Toyoda, Takuto Iguchi, Naoya Gamo, and Kenta Yamashita will race. |
ROOKIE #racing GR Supra |
3) Driver Development Initiatives in Japan
a) TGR #WRC Challenge Program
DriverCo-driver
Takamoto Katsuta (Japan) | Daniel Barritt (UK) |
URL: https://toyotagazooracing.com/release/2020/challengeprogram_rally/1218-01.html
b) TGR #WEC Challenge Program
c) TGR Driver Challenge Program (TGR-DC)
[2021 TGR-DC Training Drivers]DriverRace CategoryTeam2020 Results
Ritomo Miyata | SUPER GT (GT500) | TGR TEAM WedsSport BANDOH |
|
Japanese Super Formula Championship | VANTELIN TEAM TOM’S | ||
Kazuto Kotaka | Japanese Super Formula Lights Championship | TOM'S |
|
Hibiki Taira | Japanese Super Formula Lights Championship | TOM'S |
|
(All TGR-DC Training Drivers are Japanese)
[2021 Race Categories of drivers from TGR-DC]DriverRace Category
Kazuki Nakajima | FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) Japanese Super Formula Championship |
Kamui Kobayashi | FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) Japanese Super Formula Championship |
Hiroaki Ishiura | SUPER GT (GT500) |
Kazuya Oshima | SUPER GT (GT500) Japanese Super Formula Championship |
Yuji Kunimoto | SUPER GT (GT500) Japanese Super Formula Championship |
Ryo Hirakawa | SUPER GT (GT500) Japanese Super Formula Championship |
Yuichi Nakayama | SUPER GT (GT500) |
Kenta Yamashita | SUPER GT (GT500) Japanese Super Formula Championship |
Sho Tsuboi | SUPER GT (GT500) Japanese Super Formula Championship |
(All TGR-DC Training Drivers are Japanese)
d) TGR-DC #racing School
e) FIA F4 Japanese Championship
4) Nürburgring 24 Hours
5) e-Motorsports
<The following items have already been announced>6) FIA World #rally Championship (WRC)
Team nameTeam founderTeam principalVehicleEngineTires
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing WRT (World #rally Team: WRT) |
Akio Toyoda |
Jari-Matti Latvala (Finland) |
Yaris #WRC (length: 4,085 mm; width: 1,875 mm) |
GI4A (1.6-liter direct-injection turbo with an output of over 380 horsepower) |
Pirelli |
No.Driver / Co-driver
1 | Driver | Sébastien Ogier (France) |
Co-driver | Julien Ingrassia (France) | |
33 | Driver | Elfyn Evans (UK) |
Co-driver | Scott Martin (UK) | |
69 | Driver | Kalle Rovanperä (Finland) |
Co-driver | Jonne Halttunen (Finland) |
URL: https://toyotagazooracing.com/release/2021/WRC/0115-01.html
7) FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC)
Team nameTeam founderTeam principalVehicleEngineTires
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing |
Akio Toyoda |
Hisatake Murata |
GR010 HYBRID (length: 4,900 mm; width: 2,000 mm; weight: 1,040 kg) |
3.5-liter V6 turbo engine |
Michelin |
TeamVehicleNo.Driver
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing | GR010 HYBRID | 7 | Mike Conway (UK) |
Kamui Kobayashi (Japan) | |||
José María López (Argentina) | |||
8 | Sébastien Buemi (Switzerland) | ||
Kazuki Nakajima (Japan) | |||
Brendon Hartley (New Zealand) |
URL: https://toyotagazooracing.com/release/2021/WEC/0115-01.html
8) Dakar Rally
Dakar #rally 2021 TGR Team setup and final overall positionTeamNumberDriver / Co-driverOverall Position
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing | 301 | Driver | Nasser Al-Attiyah (Qatar) | 2nd |
Co-driver | Matthieu Baumel (France) | |||
304 | Driver | Giniel de Villiers (South Africa) | 8th | |
Co-driver | Alex Haro (Spain) | |||
330 | Driver | Shameer Variawa (South Africa) | 21st | |
Co-driver | Dennis Murphy (South Africa) | |||
332 | Driver | Henk Lategan (South Africa) | Retired | |
Co-driver | Brett Cummings (South Africa) |
URL: https://toyotagazooracing.com/release/2021/other/0118-01.html
Dakar #rally 2021 TLC Team setup and final overall positionTeamNumberDriver / Co-driverPosition inProduction Vehicle Division*1Position inDiesel Class*2Overall Position
Team Land Cruiser Toyota #auto Body | 340 | Driver | Akira Miura (Japan)*3 | 1st | 1st | 38th |
Co-driver | Laurent Lichtleuchter (France) | |||||
345 | Driver | Ronald Basso (France) | 2nd | 2nd | 40th | |
Co-driver | Jean-Michel Polato (France) |
Dakar #rally 2021 HINO TEAM SUGAWARA team setup and final overall positionTeamNumberDriver / Co-driverTruck category(less than 10 liters displacement class)
HINO Team Sugawara | 508 | Driver | Teruhito Sugawara (Japan) | 1st |
Co-driver | Hirokazu Somemiya (Japan) | |||
Co-driver | Yuji Mochizuki (Japan) |
9) SUPER GTa) GT500 Class
ClassTeamVehicleNo.DriverTires
GT 500 | TGR TEAM ENEOS ROOKIE | ENEOS X PRIME GR Supra | 14 | Kazuya Oshima (Japan) | BS |
Kenta Yamashita (Japan) | |||||
TGR TEAM WedsSport BANDOH | WedsSport ADVAN GR Supra | 19 | Yuji Kunimoto (Japan) | YH | |
Ritomo Miyata (Japan) | |||||
TGR TEAM au TOM'S | au TOM’S GR Supra | 36 | Yuhi Sekiguchi (Japan) | BS | |
Sho Tsuboi (Japan) | |||||
TGR TEAM KeePer TOM'S | KeePer TOM'S GR Supra | 37 | Ryo Hirakawa (Japan) | BS | |
Sacha Fenestraz (France) | |||||
TGR TEAM ZENT CERUMO | ZENT CERUMO GR Supra | 38 | Yuji Tachikawa (Japan) | BS | |
Hiroaki Ishiura (Japan) | |||||
TGR TEAM SARD | DENSO KOBELCO SARD GR Supra | 39 | Heikki Kovalainen (Finland) | BS | |
Yuichi Nakayama (Japan) |
Tire Brand: BS: Bridgestone, YH: Yokohama
b) GT300 Class
ClassTeamVehicleNo.DriverTires
GT 300 | apr | TOYOTA GR SPORT PRIUS PHV apr GT | 30 | Hiroaki Nagai (Japan) | YH |
Manabu Orido (Japan) | |||||
31 | Koki Saga (Japan) | BS | |||
Yuki Nakayama (Japan) | |||||
Saitama Toyopet Green Brave | Saitama Toyopet GB GR Supra GT | 52 | Hiroki Yoshida (Japan) | BS | |
Kohta Kawaai (Japan) | |||||
arto Ping An Team Thailand | arto RC F GT3 | 35 | To be confirmed | YH | |
To be confirmed | |||||
LM corsa | SYNTIUM LMcorsa GR Supra GT | 60 | Hiroki Yoshimoto (Japan) | DL | |
Shunsuke Kohno (Japan) | |||||
K-tunes Racing | K-tunes RC F GT3 | 96 | Morio Nitta (Japan) | DL | |
Sena Sakaguchi (Japan) | |||||
Max Racing | Takanoko-no-yu GR Supra GT | 244 | Atsushi Miyake (Japan) | YH | |
Yuui Tsutsumi (Japan) |
Tire Brand: BS: Bridgestone, YH: Yokohama, DL: Dunlop
10) Japanese Super Formula Championship
TeamNo.Driver
KONDO RACING | 3 | Kenta Yamashita (Japan) |
4 | Sacha Fenestraz (France) | |
KCMG | 7 | Kamui Kobayashi (Japan) |
18 | Yuji Kunimoto (Japan) | |
ROOKIE Racing | 14 | Kazuya Oshima (Japan) |
TEAM IMPUL | 19 | Yuhi Sekiguchi (Japan) |
20 | Ryo Hirakawa (Japan) | |
VANTELIN TEAM TOM’S | 36 | Kazuki Nakajima (Japan) |
37 | Ritomo Miyata (Japan) | |
P.MU/CERUMO INGING | 38 | Sho Tsuboi (Japan) |
39 | Sena Sakaguchi (Japan) |
11) Japanese #rally Championship
Team nameVehicle / ClassMain specificationsDriver / Co-driverTeam principalChief mechanicEngineer
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing | |
GR YARIS GR4 #rally / JN1 class | |
Engine | 1.6-liter three-cylinder inter cooler turbo |
Drive system | Sports 4WD system, “GR-FOUR” |
Norihiko Katsuta / Yusuke Kimura | |
Tomoyuki Shinkai / Yuichi Ando | |
Satoshi Toyooka (Toyota Motor Corporation, Advanced Technical Skills Institute Div.) | |
Masashi Miyamoto (Toyota Motor Corporation, Advanced Technical Skills Institute Div.) | |
Takashi Doi (Toyota Motor Corporation GR Project Operation Div.) |
12) Japan-Based Participatory Motorsport Events
In the hope of expanding the enjoyment of driving, TGR will hold a full range of driving activities at venues around Japan in collaboration with the various regions and circuits. TGR will increase its support for people who would like to compete in participatory motorsports Events such as races and rallies, while prioritizing the safety and health of participants.
a) TOYOTA GAZOO Racing 86/BRZ Race (organized by the Toyota Cars Race Association)
The 86/BRZ Race that was started in 2013 is a one-make race in which only TOYOTA 86 “86 Racing” and SUBARU BRZ “RA Racing” compete. In 2015, the race was divided into the “Professional Series” and “Clubman Series.” From the 2019 season, the “Clubman Series” was divided into an open class and expert class to make it easier for drivers to participate in accordance with their level of skill. Many top drivers who are currently competing in #supergt have also competed in the “Professional Series,” making for a very lively race atmosphere. Professionally-certified drivers cannot participate in the “Clubman Series”; only amateur drivers and gentleman drivers are invited to compete. There are plans to hold the 2021 series at seven major circuits throughout Japan in a total of eight rounds.
b) TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Yaris Cup (organized by the Toyota Cars Race Association)
The TGR Yaris Cup will be started from this season as a new participatory one-make race. It continues on from the 21-year history of the TGR Netz Cup Vitz Race, the first JAF-certified number-plated car one-make race, which started in 2000. The competing car will be the Yaris Cup Car, which is based on the new Yaris.
The support system will be enhanced further so that first-time participants in motorsports can also enjoy competing with peace of mind. In the 2021 season, the competition will be divided into two series (East Japan and West Japan) and held on six major circuits.
c) TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Rally Challenge (organized by the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Rally Challenge Office)
The TGR #rally Challenge is held throughout Japan as a beginning stage for domestic rallies based on the concept of a participatory #rally that anyone can easily participate in. Anyone with a domestic B license (issued by the Japan Automobile Federation; JAF) can enter the #rally. A key feature is the fact that in addition to sportscars like the 86 and GR Yaris, drivers can also compete in automatic cars such as the Yaris, Vitz or Aqua.
Programs such as domestic B license classes and #rally workshops are also available for individuals who are interested in rallies or who will be competing for the first time. We hope to cooperate with members of local communities where each #rally will be held to keep enlivening #rally challenges going forward so that they become like local festivals.
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