TOYOTA GAZOO Racing is a racing company positioning motorsports activities as the basis of our quest to create ever-better cars. From products developed through these activities to the establishment of the GR Garage, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing’s motorsports activities have been promoted as a comprehensive method of increasing numbers of car fans.
At last month’s North American International Auto Show in Detroit, we unveiled the new “Supra,” which is set to become the first global model in the GR series line-up. The new Supra incorporates the knowledge and know-how that TOYOTA GAZOO Racing has accumulated thus far, and has been developed with the goal of enabling customers to fully experience the joy of driving. We have positioned the new Supra as our flagship model and, by feeding back knowledge gained through motorsports activities into the development of new products, we intend to further expand the GR series line-up.
In 2018, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing achieved the long-desired goal of winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans and also secured the WRC manufacturers’ title, demonstrating that the challenges we have embarked on are leading to concrete results. However, we will not rest on our laurels. In order to deliver the anticipation and excitement of driving to a wider audience, we will engage in the motorsports activities listed below in 2019. TOYOTA GAZOO Racing will compete in the 2019-2020 WEC season. (The driver line-up will be announced at a later date.)With team line-ups, we will also compete in the Nürburgring 24 Hours Endurance Race and other races in Japan respectively. In addition, we will focus on “e-Motor Sports” in collaboration with Gran Turismo SPORT and other racing games. We are engaging in such various motorsports activities to e-Motor Sports.
Outline of Toyota’s 2019 Motorsports Activities
SUPER GT
GT500 Class
In 2019, LEXUS GAZOO Racing will continue to enter the Lexus “LC 500”.
LEXUS GAZOO Racing will support 6 teams and 6 vehicles supported by TRD.
GT300 Class
In the GT300 class, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing will enter 2 Toyota “Prius” and LEXUS GAZOO Racing will enter 3 Lexus “RC F GT3” models.
Nürburgring 24 Hours Endurance Race
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing positions the Nürburgring 24 Hours endurance race as the starting point of activities aimed to make ever-better cars, and will participate for the 13th consecutive year in 2019. Through participation in the race, we seek activities aimed at developing our people and cars, and support the development of Toyota’s production vehicles.
The 47th Nürburgring 24 Hours endurance race (official name: 47. ADAC TOTAL 24h-Rennen) will take place on June 22-23, 2019.
This year, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing will enter 2 cars: the Lexus LC will compete for the second year in a row, while the Supra―resurrected for the first time in 17 years―will make its debut. By fitting both models with a number of advanced development technologies that will be used in future sportscars and other production vehicles, we aim to support the creation of ever-better cars.
Customer Motorsports (GT3)
Through global sales and its customer support of the Lexus RC F GT3, LEXUS GAZOO Racing will enable customers from around the world to enjoy GT3 races, and contribute to enhancing the image of the Lexus brand. LEXUS GAZOO Racing will also provide feedback of technologies developed through its race activities to its production vehicles, and enhance the products.
In 2019, Lexus RC F GT3 racecars will compete in various races in the world.
Toyota Young Drivers Program (TDP)
This program supports young drivers to be able to compete in top racing categories around the world.
The program is dedicated to identifying new talent, and provides a framework to hone the abilities of participants, depending on their particular strengths
Sho Tsuboi will make the step up to both the Super GT GT500 class and Super Formula.
List of Toyota Young Drivers Program Participants for 2019
FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC)
The FIA World Endurance Championship has taken place every year since 2012.
2018-2019 is a “Super Season,” and 2019 begins with Round 6, the 1000 Miles of Sebring, on March 15, 2019, and concludes with Round 8, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, on June 15-16, 2019.
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing will compete in the races with two of the improved “TS050 HYBRID” models, which are developed and operated by TMG.
The THS-R (TOYOTA Hybrid System-Racing) powertrain, developed at TOYOTA Higashifuji Technical Center in Japan, not only follows the existing four-wheel regenerative/drive system, but also improves the reliability of the engine, electric motors/generators and batteries. These technologies will be leveraged to the mass-production hybrid and electric vehicles.
TS050 HYBRID will be equipped with Michelin tires.
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing will compete in the 2019-2020 WEC season with two TS050 HYBRID models. The eight-round season will begin with the 4 Hours of Silverstone on September 1 2019 and concludes with the 24 Hours of Le Mans on June 13-14 2020. The driver line-up will be announced at a later date.
Source. Toyota
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