TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Outlines 2020 Motorsports Activities

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing (TGR) is TOYOTA's racing company positioning motorsports activities as the basis of our quest to make 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.

TGR began 2019 by achieving overall victory at the Dakar Rally. In the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), we secured both the team and the driver's championships, and we won the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the second consecutive year.In the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), we won the driver's and co-driver's championships. In Japan, we won the championships in SUPER GT and Super Formula, and the class championship in the Japan Rally Championship. 2019 was a successful year in which TGR impressed the strong association between Toyota and motorsports on both Japan and countries abroad.However, we will not rest on our laurels. In order to deliver the dreams and excitement of driving to a wider audience, in 2020 we will continue to engage in a variety of motorsports activities both in Japan and overseas.

The WEC 2019-2020 season will be the last for the TS050 HYBRID, and we intend to secure a third successive victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. For the WEC 2020-2021 season, which begins after the 24 Hours of Le Mans, we intend to participate in the Le Mans Hypercar (LMH) Class using a racing car based on the GR Super Sport that is currently under development; we will announce the team setup at a later date. In the WRC, we intend to overhaul our driver and co-driver line-up. The WRC will return to Japan for the first time in 10 years, with Rally Japan to be held across Aichi and Gifu Prefectures in November. In SUPER GT, the Supra will return to the GT500 Class for the first time in 15 years. In SUPER GT, the Supra will return to the GT500 Class for the first time in 15 years. As far as driver development is concerned, in order to nurture Japanese racing and rally drivers capable of competing on the world stage, we intend to promote the TGR Driver Challenge Program (TGR-DC), which integrates and extends our various existing programs. In addition, we will offer vehicles for ROOKIE Racing so that we can gain expertise from the viewpoints of this private team, which is composed of various drivers, and feed it back into our product development.

With regard to products, we gave the new GR Yaris its world premiere at the Tokyo Auto Salon last month. It is the second model in the GR series to be launched globally. The GR Yaris was developed out of a desire to "once again create a genuine Toyota sports car." Master Driver Morizo, the motorsports alias of President Akio Toyoda, was involved in evaluating and testing the car from its initial development. Incorporating knowledge accumulated by TGR through its participation in the WRC, the GR Yaris was designed to deliver to customers the excitement of a sports 4WD. Going forward, TGR will continue to take advantage of its motorsports expertise in product development, and seek to further expand the GR line-up.

1. GT500 Class

• In 2020, TGR will enter the GR Supra GT500 for the first time.
• Through TOYOTA CUSTOMIZING & DEVELOPMENT Co., Ltd., we will support six teams and six vehicles.
• Sacha Fenestraz and Ritomo Miyata, who both participated in the Japanese Formula 3 Championship last year, are new additions to the driver line-up.

2. GT300 Class

• In the GT300 class, TGR will enter two Prius PHV, one GR Supra, and four Lexus RC F GT3 models.

2. Japanese Super Formula Championship

• Toyota Racing Development (TRD) will supply six teams and 11 vehicles with the Biz-01F two-liter four-cylinder direct-injection gasoline turbo engine.
• Sacha Fenestraz is a new addition to the driver line-up.
• All vehicles will be equipped with tires made by Yokohama Rubber.

3. Japanese Rally Championship

• TGR will continue to participate in the Japanese Rally Championship in 2020.
• As part of our efforts for making ever-better cars, we intend to refine both our people and cars through our participation in the highest-category rally championship in Japan.
• The team's engineers and mechanics are Toyota employees, and the company's employees are involved in all aspects of the JRC, from car manufacturing to participation in the rallies themselves.

4. e-Motorsports

• In 2019, e-Motorsports was adopted as part of a culture program at the National Sports Festival.
• In 2020, TGR intends to continue to engage in e-Motorsports, a category of new motorsports. We will also continue to be the official partner for the FIA GT Championship, and again host the GR Supra GT Cup, a one-make race for the GR Supra. Further details will be announced in due course.

5. Customer Motorsports

1. LEXUS RC F 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. LEXUS GAZOO Racing will also provide feedback of technologies developed through its race activities to its production vehicles, and enhance the products.
• In 2020, Lexus RC F GT3 racecars will once again compete in various races around the world.

2. GR Supra GT4

• The GR Supra GT4 is a dedicated racecar based on the production GR Supra.
• The car will go on sale in Europe in March 2020, in the U.S. in August, and in Japan and Asia in October.
• In 2020, the GR Supra GT4 is scheduled to participate in the European races listed below.

URL

https://toyotagazooracing.com/release/2019/other/0704-01.html

1. TGR WRC Challenge Program

• The TGR Rally Challenge Program was launched in 2015 with the aim of nurturing young rally drivers capable of competing in the WRC; the program's name was changed in 2020 to the TGR WRC Challenge Program.
• For the 2020 WRC season, Takamoto Katsuta will take the wheel of the Yaris WRC and compete in a total of eight rounds―seven in Europe, and his home rally in Japan.

URL

https://toyotagazooracing.com/release/2019/challengeprogram_rally/1213-01.html

2. TGR WEC Challenge Program

• The TGR WEC Challenge Program was launched in July 2019 with the aim of nurturing young drivers capable of competing in the LMP1 Class of the WEC.
• For the WEC 2019-2020 season, Kenta Yamashita is participating in the LMP2 Class as part of the High Class Racing team.

4. TGR-DC Racing School

• The TGR-DC Racing School aims to discover and nurture racing and rally drivers capable of competing in top racing categories both in Japan and overseas. It also seeks to widen the base of the motorsports pyramid in a healthy manner by educating people to drive correctly.
• The TGR-DC Racing School was previously called the Formula Toyota Racing School.
• Students of the school who are deemed to have outstanding potential will be given the opportunity to participate in races in future seasons, as well as undergo training for driving on dirt and snow surfaces. Dates for 2020 will be confirmed in due course.

5. FIA F4 Japanese Championship

• TGR will support young drivers competing in the FIA F4 Japanese Championship, which is the entry class formula category.
• Six events and 14 races have been scheduled.

Past Legs of the 5 Continents Drive

URL

https://toyotagazooracing.com/release/2020/wrc/0110-01.html

2019-2020 WEC season

URL

https://toyotagazooracing.com/release/2019/wec/0722-01.html

11. Dakar Rally

• TGR entered four rally raid-specification Hilux cars into the 2020 Dakar Rally, which was held in Saudi Arabia in January.

Dakar Rally 2020 TGR Team setup and final overall position

URL

https://toyotagazooracing.com/release/2020/other/0118-01.html

Dakar Rally 2020 HINO TEAM SUGAWARA team setup and final overall position

Driver (TBN)

13. Japan-Based Participatory Motorsport Events

• In the hope of extending the enjoyment of driving, TGR will provide a full range of driving activities at venues around Japan in collaboration with the various regions and circuits, with increased support for people who would like to compete in participatory motorsports events such as races and rallies.

1. TOYOTA GAZOO Racing 86/BRZ Race (organized by the Toyota Cars Race Association)

The 86/BRZ Race started in 2013 and is a one-make race in which only Toyota "86Racing" and Subaru BRZ RA Racing compete in. Since 2015, the race has been divided into the Professional Series and the Clubman Series. While many professional drivers who have raced in the Super GT and Super Formula compete in the Professional Series, only amateur drivers are allowed to compete in the Clubman Series. In 2020, the series will again be held over eight rounds at seven circuits around Japan.

2. TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Netz Cup Vitz Race (organized by the Toyota Cars Race Association)

The Netz Cup Vitz Race is an amateur race open to anyone who drives a "Vitz RS Racing" or "Vitz GR Sports" Racing Package and holds a class A license. Started in 2000, the race marked its 20th year in 2019. Racing events take place at seven circuits around Japan; half the participants are novice racers, and large numbers of female racers also take part. In 2020, the competition will play host to a total of 17 rounds and special rounds across five series.

3. TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Rally Challenge (organized by the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Rally Challenge Office)

The TGR Rally Challenge is a series of one-day rallies held only on Sundays for easy entry. It serves as an introduction to domestic rallies, and is held at locations across Japan. Part of the series' attraction lies in the fact that anybody with a class B license is eligible to enter with hybrid or AT versions of the 86, Vitz, Aqua, new Yaris, or Copen models.

4. TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Driving Experience

• This is a driving event designed to teach everything from the basic vehicle operations of driving, turning, and stopping, to high-level practical driving techniques, with lessons suited to a variety of skill levels.
• TGR will hold Program 1, at which attendees can learn basic driving operations, at Mega Web; and Program 2, which is designed for sports driving beginners, and Program 3, which is aimed at experienced sports drivers, at circuits nationwide. We will also hold Program 4, which is a practical program for people intending to compete in the Netz Cup Vitz Race and the 86/BRZ Race, and a Special Program, at which attendees can experience the joy of cars in non-circuit environments.

14. GR Series and GR Garage

GR Series

GR Garage

15. Creating Opportunities for Car Lovers and Car Fans to Interact

• TGR is working to increase spaces and opportunities for car lovers and motorsports fans to discuss their car-related hopes and dreams, and to talk about the joy of cars.

1. TOYOTA GAZOO Racing PARK^*

Featuring a range of hands-on activities that demonstrate the appeal of motorsports, this community-based event enables everyone―from children to adults―to enjoy cars and motorsports. The events, which have close ties with local communities, seek to expand the horizons of car fans, and are scheduled to be held across Japan.

2. TOYOTA GAZOO Racing will host booths at domestic custom car shows^*

We will host booths at the Tokyo Auto Salon and Osaka Automesse, which are held every year in January and February respectively. The booths provide opportunities for the company to interact with car fans and car lovers and, at the same time, enable customer feedback to be incorporated into product planning.

3. MO-SPO Festival 2020 Suzuka -Motorsports Fan Thanks Day-^*

The MO-SPO Festival Suzuka―Motorsports Fan Appreciation Day will again be held in 2020. This event aims to encourage the establishment, development, and invigoration of, and love for, mobility and motorsports cultures in Japan. It is co-hosted by Honda Motor Co., Ltd., Mobilityland Corporation, and Toyota Motor Corporation, and seeks to transcend the boundaries of manufacturer and genre. In 2020, the event will be held at Suzuka Circuit on March 7 and 8.