Mar. 29, 2013
TMC Outlines GAZOO Car-fan Activities for 2013
Number of Places for Fans to Experience the Thrill of
Racing to be Increased
Toyota City, Japan, March 29, 2013―Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) today announces its 2013 GAZOO activity plans, which are aimed at broadening the appeal of car racing and fostering more car enthusiasts. To successfully reach and support a new generation of car enthusiasts around the world, TMC is striving to promote the joy of cars in ways that transcend the role of a typical car manufacturer and to create ever-better cars that satisfy drivers.
In 2013, TMC efforts to promote the joy of cars will involve increasing venues for car enthusiasts to experience actual circuit and rally racing.
Motor sports and other events that allow participants to experience racing first hand in their own cars (production vehicles) will be widely implemented and focus on two areas―circuit racing and rallying. Venues to experience circuit racing will be made more available through at least 20 GAZOO Racing "Waku Doki" (anticipation and excitement) circuit events nationwide that give even drivers with no racing experience an easy opportunity to safely drive their own car on a racetrack, as well as other events such as the new GAZOO Racing 86/BRZ Race one-make races for street-legal cars. Events for experiencing rallying will also be conducted, and TMC will strengthen its support for participation in the TRD Rally Challenge, an amateur competition, as it strives to create easier opportunities for participation in racing.
As part of initiatives to develop ever-better cars, the GAZOO Racing team has been competing in the 24 Hours Nürburgring endurance race since 2007 to promote the development of human resources capable of "automotive seasoning". TMC will also pursue further commercial development of "GAZOO Racing tuned by MN"1 (GRMN), "G Sports"2 (G's) and other models to give car enthusiasts a taste of the thrill of racing.
One-make GAZOO Racing 86/BRZ Race
TRD Rally Challenge
Efforts to Promote Enjoyment through Cars
1. Creation of Venues to Experience the Thrill of Racing
TMC will encourage drivers to experience and train for grass-roots circuit racing and rallying as well as take part in more advanced competitions.
Circuit Racing
| 1) Racing Experience: GAZOO Racing "Waku Doki" Circuit Events | ||
| These events give participants firsthand experience with motor sports and circuits, providing a safe and easy way for even those with no racing experience to drive on a racetrack. In 2013, the initiative will be expanded as TMC plans to hold at least 20 events and enable a wide range of enthusiasts to participate, with different programs available for drivers with no circuit experience (experience programs) and drivers with experience (training programs). | ||
| a. Basic Circuit Racing Program 30- to 60-minute, beginner-level circuit experience b. Regular Circuit Racing Program Half- to full-day, intermediate-level circuit experience c. Advanced Circuit Racing Program Training program for drivers wanting to take the next step and compete in events such as the 86/BRZ Race |
| GAZOO Racing "Waku Doki" Circuit Event Schedule | ||
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2) Sponsorship: One-make GAZOO Racing 86/BRZ Race (Organized by the Toyota Cars Race Association)
TMC will host and sponsor the new GAZOO Racing 86/BRZ Race competition for street-legal cars in addition to
the existing Netz Cup Vitz Race.
| GAZOO Racing 86/BRZ Race Schedule | ||
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(http://gazoo.com/racing/).
Rallying
Racing Experience and Support for Amateur Competitors
Events will be held allowing participants to be a passenger in a rally car or drive a rally course. A seminar will also be conducted to provide instruction on rally basics, how to obtain a license and other support to drivers wanting to compete in a rally.
2. Contribution to Grass-roots Motor Sports Promotion
TMC aims to help increase the number of participants in grass-roots motor sports events by sponsoring teams competing with the "86" and working with teams to communicate the appeal of motor sports.
Circuit Racing
| - | Sponsorship of a Team Competing in the Super Taikyu Endurance Series | |
| - | GAZOO Racing drivers (Masahiko Kageyama, Takuto Iguchi and Naoya Gamou) to compete as Team GAZOO Racing SPIRIT |
Rallying
| - | Sponsorship of a Team Competing in the All-Japan Rally Championship | |
| - | Sponsorship of the TRD Rally Challenge |
3. Providing Venues for Car-Enthusiast Interaction
TMC will promote opportunities for car enthusiasts to gather around vehicles and share their dreams, hopes and enthusiasm for cars.
Toyota GAZOO Racing Festival
A festival attracting a large number of car enthusiasts to watch or take part in motor sports, as well as GAZOO Mura3 and other programs that suggest ways to enjoy cars. The 2013 Toyota GAZOO Racing Festival is scheduled to take place at Fuji Speedway in November.
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 between January and March, TMC 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.
GAZOO Racing Exhibit at the Goodwood Festival of Speed
TMC will once again exhibit at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, a motor sports festival to be held this year in Goodwood (West Sussex, England) from July 12 to 14. GAZOO Racing's 86, one of the vehicles to be entered in the 41st 24 Hours Nürburgring endurance race, will be among the vehicles displayed.
Efforts to Develop Ever-better Cars
1. Competing in the 24 Hours Nürburgring Endurance Race
TMC will compete in the 41st 24 Hours Nürburgring endurance race to be held at the Nürburgring Circuit in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, from May 17 to 20. The GAZOO Racing team, participating for the seventh time, will enter one Lexus "LFA" and two Toyota 86 sports cars. TMC also seeks to develop human resources capable of creating ever-better cars by engaging its own employees as drivers and mechanics for the race.
2. Development of GRMN and G's Models
TMC will seek to commercialize GRMN and G's concept cars displayed at the Tokyo Auto Salon in January. TMC employees with experience competing in the 24 Hours Nürburgring endurance race will be involved in fine-tuning these models.
1Product brand forged on the streets of Nürburgring―considered by many to be the crucible of performance-vehicle development―and through other races and fine-tuning by GAZOO Racing test drivers
2Sports conversion series of models fully tuned by GAZOO Racing test drivers and set at an affordable price range. Production costs are reduced through partial inline customization and other measures, thus giving a wider range of consumers a taste of racing and the enjoyment of cars
3Initiative aimed at using cars and the Internet to connect towns and villages (mura) across Japan. Starting with three mura on the southern island of Kyushu in 2006, the program has expanded to what is now 58 mura covering all 47 prefectures of Japan. The 441 bloggers that contribute to gazoo.com's blog page write posts introducing the seasonal scenery and events in their mura, inviting people who read the blogs to drive out and visit them to participate in hands-on or experience-oriented activities.
Downloads
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- One-make GAZOO Racing 86/BRZ Race
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- TRD Rally Challenge
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