Toyota Outlines Its Motorsports Activities for CY2014 | Toyota Motor Corporation Official Global Website

Toyota City, Japan, January 30, 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 CY2014.

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 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 motor sports 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.

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 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 Japan’s Super Formula racing series, new RI4A engines have been added this season to help Lexus 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
Team	Vehicle	Driver
Toyota Racing	TS040 Hybrid	Alex Wurz (Austria)
		Nicolas Lapierre (France)
		Kazuki Nakajima (Japan)
		Anthony Davidson (UK)
		Stéphane Sarrazin (France)
		Sébastien Buemi (Switzerland)
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
Team	Car No.	Driver (all from U.S.)
Joe Gibbs Racing	11	Denny Hamlin
	18	Kyle Busch
	20	Matt Kenseth
Michael Waltrip Racing	15	Clint Bowyer
Michael Waltrip Racing	55	Brian Vickers

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.

Vehicle	Driver/Navigator	Position in production vehicle division¹	Position in diesel class	Overall position
Vehicle 1 (car number 345)	Jun Mitsuhashi / Alain Guehennec	1st	1st	21st
Vehicle 2 (car number 344)	Nicolas Gibon / Akira Miura²	2nd	2nd	24th
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
Class	Team	Vehicle	Car No.	Driver	Tires
GT 500	LEXUS TEAM ZENT CERUMO	ZENT CERUMO RC F	1	Yuji Tachikawa (Japan)	Bridgestone
				Kohei Hirate (Japan)
	LEXUS TEAM LeMans ENEOS	ENEOS SUSTINA RC F	6	Kazuya Oshima (Japan)	Bridgestone
				Yuji Kunimoto (Japan)
	LEXUS TEAM PETRONAS TOM'S	PETRONAS TOM'S RC F	36	Kazuki Nakajima (Japan)	Bridgestone
				James Rossiter (UK)
	LEXUS TEAM KeePer TOM’S	KeePer TOM'S RC F	37	Daisuke Ito (Japan)	Bridgestone
				Andrea Caldarelli (Italy)
	LEXUS TEAM SARD	DENSO KOBELCO RC F	39	Hiroaki Ishiura (Japan)	Bridgestone
				Oliver Jarvis (UK)
	LEXUS TEAM WedSport BANDOH	(undecided)	19	(undecided)	(undecided)
				(undecided)
GT 300	apr	(undecided)	31	Morio Nitta (Japan)	(undecided)
				Koki Saga (Japan)

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
Team	No.	Driver
KONDO RACING	3	James Rossiter (UK)
Team LeMans	7	Ryo Hirakawa (Japan)
Team LeMans	8	Loic Duval (France)
KCMG	18	Yuichi Nakayama (Japan)
TEAM IMPUL	19	Joao Paulo de Oliveira (Brazil)
TEAM IMPUL	20	Kumar Ram Narain Karthikeyan (India)
PETRONAS TEAM TOM’S	36	Andre Lotterer (Germany)
PETRONAS TEAM TOM’S	37	Kazuki Nakajima (Japan)
P.MU/CERUMO-INGING	38	Hiroaki Ishiura (Japan)
P.MU/CERUMO-INGING	39	Yuji Kunimoto (Japan)
TOCHIGI Le Beausset Motorsports	62	Koki Saga (Japan)

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
Driver	Category	Team	Remarks/Last Year’s Results
Ryo Hirakawa	Japanese Championship Super Formula	Team LeMans	Super Formula (11th overall in series)
Yuichi Nakayama	Japanese Championship Super Formula	KCMG	Japanese F3 Championship (11 wins; 1st overall in series; 12 PPs^* in 13 races)
Takamoto Katsuta	Japanese F3 Championship	PETRONAS TEAM TOM’S	Japanese F3 Championship (2 wins; 2nd overall in series; 2 PPs in 15 races)
Kenta Yamashita	Japanese F3 Championship	PETRONAS TEAM TOM’S	FCJ (4 wins; 1st overall in series; 3 PPs in 12 races)
^*Pole position, including fastest race lap time

2014 Drivers Who Participated in Toyota Young Drivers Program
Driver (all Japanese)	This Year’s Race Category	Team
Kazuki Nakajima	World Endurance Championship	TOYOTA Racing
	SUPER GT	LEXUS TEAM PETRONAS TOM’S
	Japanese Championship Super Formula	PETRONAS TEAM TOM’S
Hiroaki Ishiura	SUPER GT	LEXUS TEAM SARD
Hiroaki Ishiura	Japanese Championship Super Formula	P.MU/CERUMO-INGING
Kohei Hirate	SUPER GT	LEXUS TEAM ZENT CERUMO
Kazuya Oshima	SUPER GT	LEXUS TEAM LeMans ENEOS
Yuji Kunimoto	SUPER GT	LEXUS TEAM LeMans ENEOS
Yuji Kunimoto	Japanese Championship Super Formula	P.MU/CERUMO-INGING

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 Nürburgring 24 Hours 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
Date	Location	Type	Date	Location	Type
Mar. 30	Twin Ring Motegi	b	Aug. 4	Okayama International Circuit	d
Apr. 8	Sportsland Sugo	d	Aug. 13	Autopolils	c
Apr. 15	Fuji Speedway	d	Aug. 14	Autopolils	d
May 17	TS Takasaki Circuit	c	Sep. 2	Tsukuba Circuit	d
May 25	Sportsland Sugo	b	Sep. 6	Okayama International Circuit	b
Jun. 2	Suzuka Circuit	c	Sep. 12	Twin Ring Motegi	c
Jun. 3	Tsukuba Circuit	c	Sep. 23	Maze Sea Circuit	c
Jun. 27	Fuji Speedway	c	Sep. 27	Ebisu Circuit	c
Jul. 5	Tokachi Speedway	c	Sep. 30	Fuji Speedway	c
Jul. 6	Tokachi Speedway	b	Oct. 26	Suzuka Circuit	b
Jul. 15	Fuji Speedway	d	Oct. 30	Okayama International Circuit	c
Jul. 27	Fuji Speedway	b	Nov. 9	Autopolis	b
Aug. 2	Sportsland Sugo	c	Nov. 30	Asan Circuit	c
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
Date	Location	Date	Location
Mar. 29–30	Twin Ring Motegi	Jul. 26	Fuji Speedway
Apr. 27	Sportsland Sugo	Sep. 6–7	Okayama International Circuit
May 17–18	Fuji Speedway	Sep. 20–21	Fuji Speedway
Jun. 7–8	Fuji Speedway	Oct. 12	Autopolis
Jun. 29	Tokachi Speedway	Nov. 8–9	Suzuka Circuit

GAZOO Racing Netz Cup Vitz Race Schedule
Date	Location	Date	Location
May 3–4	Fuji Speedway	Aug. 10	Fuji Speedway
May 11	Suzuka Circuit (East)	Aug. 24	Tokachi Speedway
May 24–25	Sportsland Sugo	Sep. 6–7	Okayama International Circuit
May 31–Jun 1	Autopolis	Sep. 13–14	Autopolis
Jun. 7–8	Fuji Speedway	Sep. 27–28	Sportsland Sugo
Jun. 29	Tokachi Speedway	Oct. 5	Tokachi Speedway
Jul. 5–6	Suzuka Circuit	Oct. 12	Autopolis
Jul. 19–20	Sportsland Sugo	Oct. 26	Twin Ring Motegi
Aug. 2–3	Okayama International Circuit

2) Contribution to grass-roots motorsports promotion
GAZOO Racing aims to help increase the number of participants in grass-roots motorsports events by sponsoring teams competing with the "86" and working with teams to communicate the appeal of motorsports.

i) Sponsorship of Super Taikyu Endurance Series team
GAZOO Racing drivers (Masahiko Kageyama, Takuto Iguchi and Naoya Gamou) from Team GAZOO Racing Spirit will compete in the GAZOO Racing Spirit 86 car in all six races of the series.
Super Taikyu Organization website (Japanese only): http://www.supertaikyu.com/

ii) Sponsorship of a team competing in the Japanese Rally Championship Japanese Rally Competition Association (JRCA) website (Japanese only): http://www.jrca.gr.jp/

iii) Sponsorship of the TRD Rally Challenge
TRD Rally Challenge website (Japanese only): http://trdrallychallenge.jp/

3) Providing venues for car-enthusiast interaction
Toyota will promote initiatives to increase venues and opportunities for car enthusiasts to gather around vehicles and share their dreams, hopes and enthusiasm for cars.

i) Toyota GAZOO Racing Festival
The festival attracts a large number of car enthusiasts of everything from racing cars to well-cared-for personal cars. Toyota again plans to hold the festival at Fuji Speedway on November 23.

ii) GAZOO Racing exhibits at custom car shows in Japan
By opening GAZOO Racing booths at custom car shows such as the Tokyo Auto Salon held in Japan every year, Toyota interacts with car lovers and enthusiasts as they look at GRMN, G's and other concept cars and obtains feedback to be used in product planning.

2) GAZOO Racing initiatives to develop ever-better cars
1) Competing in the Nürburgring 24 Hours endurance race
GAZOO Racing will enter three vehicles in the 42nd Nürburgring 24 Hours endurance race in Germany: a Lexus “LFA,” a Toyota “86” and a newly added research vehicle, the “GAZOO Racing Lexus LFA Code X”.

The GAZOO Racing Lexus LFA Code X was created to enable the study of future sports car technologies. Compared to the LFA's base 4.8-liter V10 engine, the research vehicle's engine displacement has been increased to 5.3 liters and system output and torque has been fine-tuned to better suit the Nürburgring course. Other enhancements include a full carbon frame body to enhance body-rigidity while reducing vehicle weight.

The GAZOO Racing team has been competing in the Nürburgring 24 Hours endurance race since 2007. By providing its own engineers and technicians for race team support, Toyota aims for the race to serve as an opportunity to cultivate "automotive seasoning" personnel able to develop ever-better vehicles.

GAZOO Racing Team Participation in the 42nd Nürburgring 24 Hours Endurance Race
Team name	Vehicle	Drivers	Engineers and technicians
GAZOO Racing	GAZOO Racing Lexus LFA	Takayuki Kinoshita, Hiroaki Ishiura, Kazuya Oshima	TMC personnel
	GAZOO Racing Lexus LFA Code X	Akira Iida, Juichi Wakisaka, Takuto Iguchi
	GAZOO Racing Toyota 86	Masahiko Kageyama, Kumi Sato, Naoya Gamou

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