Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) today announces its Toyota Racing, Lexus Racing and GAZOO Racing motorsports activities for 2015.

Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) today announces its Toyota Racing, Lexus Racing and GAZOO Racing motorsports activities for 2015.

Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) today announces its Toyota Racing, Lexus Racing and GAZOO Racing motorsports activities for 2015.Toyota also announces that it will return to the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) in 2017, to compete in the series for the first time since 1999. The rally vehicle will be based on the “Yaris” hatchback and will be developed and tested by Toyota Motorsport GmbH (TMG).

Toyota views motorsports as an ideal medium for conveying the anticipation and excitement that driving can produce, and will strive to expand the reach of motorsports through to attract a wide range of car enthusiasts.Toyota hopes to use these activities to hone its people, automobiles and technologies, and use the experience and expertise gained to develop ever-better cars.

Toyota Racing will continue to race in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) and play a supporting role for teams competing in U.S. NASCAR, Japanese Super Formula and the Dakar Rally. Lexus Racing will compete in Japan's top-level Super GT and provide the Lexus “RC F GT3” globally for use in grass-roots motorsports.This year GAZOO Racing will again take part in the Nürburgring 24 Hours endurance race, as it has with a team of employees since 2007 with the aim of personnel development. It will now increase these activities by entering a staff team in the All Japan Rally Championship and having Toyota mechanics participate in Japan's Super Taikyu series. In addition to providing a full range of grass-roots motorsports events such as the GAZOO Racing 86/BRZ Race and GAZOO Racing “Waku-Doki” driving, it has also established a support program to nurture professional rally drivers.

Toyota Racing - FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC).

Toyota Racing will continue to race in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC). Last year, when it became possible to fully utilize the maximum potential of the hybrid system, the newcomer “TS040 Hybrid” won five out of eight races, winning the manufacturers’ and drivers’ world titles. This year, the fourth year of participation, Toyota Racing will enhance its full-hybrid powertrain—the Toyota Hybrid System-Racing (THS-R)—aiming to win this year's titles again and, for the first time, win the legendary Le Mans 24 Hours (held June 13–14).

As World Champions, TOYOTA Racing will take the #1 and #2 plates while the individual driver line-ups have been fine-tuned for maximum performance.The #1 car will feature drivers’ World Champions Anthony Davidson and Sébastien Buemi alongside Kazuki Nakajima. Alex Wurz, Stéphane Sarrazin and Mike Conway will share the #2.

FIA World Rally Championship (starting in 2017)

Toyota has started preparations for its return in 2017, judging this event to be a leading stage to promote its ever-better-cars activities. Toyota Motorsport GmbH (TMG) is developing and testing the engine and vehicle, which is based on the Yaris. Between 1973 and 1999 (with a temporary suspension between 1996 and 1997), Toyota won 43 WRC rallies and won the championship three times.

Vehicle

Yaris WRC (length 3,910 mm; width 1,820 mm)

Engine

1.6-liter direct-injection turbo (in line with global race engine stipulations)

Tires

Michelin

2015 test drivers

Stéphane Sarrazin, Sebastian Lindholm, Eric Camilli

 

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Over Toyota Belgium NV/SA