Toyota Gazoo Racing Archives

GAZOO Racing parts now available in Malaysia for sporty personalisation

GAZOO is a name that has been around since the early 2000s although back then, it was known only in Japan. It was the name of a website that was created and supervised by Akio Toyoda, currently. President of Toyota Motor Corporation. At that time, he had just joined the Board of Directors after having served in various roles at different Toyota subsidiaries and digitisation was accelerating.

From being the name for a website (which still exists today) that served as a hub for virtual shops mainly dealing in the auto business, GAZOO began to appear in motorsports towards the end of the 2000s. Being a racing driver and car enthusiast himself, Akio wanted to generate more excitement for the sport among the young and GAZOO Racing was to expand the role of promoting motorsports beyond that of traditional automakers.

Today GAZOO Racing is a major part of Toyota which is responsible for motorsports and high-performance products. Its scope has progressively broadened and in countries like Malaysia, GAZOO Racing (GR) has been established as a new performance brand.

Growing name in Malaysia
“GAZOO Racing is a name that has gained tremendous traction in the Malaysian market since we first introduced the brand here in 2017. The brand represents Toyota’s motor racing activities worldwide, and this has translated into a great number of initiatives locally that include the organizing of the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Festival, Vios Challenge one-make race, GAZOO Racing Velocity Esports Championship, the launch of exclusive GR vehicles, the roll-out of the Vios GR-S in Malaysia and establishing the GAZOO Racing Young Talent Development Program for young racing drivers,” said Akio Takeyama, GAZOO Racing Malaysia’s Chief Motorsports Officer.

Exclusive GR parts
Now GAZOO Racing Malaysia is making available GAZOO Racing (GR) parts and accessories that are exclusively for the GR Yaris, Vios GR-S, Vios and Yaris. “The availability and sale of GR parts and accessories is a further extension of these initiatives as Toyota steps up its efforts to gain a bigger foothold in Malaysian motorsports,” said Mr. Takeyama.

Exclusive to the limited-edition GR Yaris are 5 styling upgrades – a GR Front Spoiler with Rear Extension; GR Side Skirts; GR Rear Bumper Spoiler; GR Sports Muffler and an GR Interior Panel Set (carbonfibre design).

All other parts are available for the Vios GR-S, Vios and Yaris. This, however, excludes the GR start/stop button, GR emblem, GR carpet mat, which already come standard in the Vios GR-S.

Only available at selected outlets
All GR Parts and accessories come with a 1-year warranty and to ensure quality fitment, customers can have the products installed at the respective GR Garages and GR outlets. The parts can be purchased only at 5 GR Garages and 39 GR outlets (Toyota dealerships that have teams competing in the Vios Challenge racing series).

The five GR Garages nationwide are Fokus Tetap (Shah Alam, Selangor), PCM Klang Motor (Klang, Selangor), Wing Hin Auto (Balakong, Selangor), Telagamas (Kulim, Kedah) and Mutiara Motorsports (Masai, Johor). The list of GR outlets can be found at www.toyota.com.my.

UMW Toyota Motor President, Ravindran K., said the availability of GR Parts allows customers to have a higher degree of personalization for their vehicles, especially those who share the passion for motorsports. “GR is as much about performance as it is about styling, safety and lifestyle, and this is reflected throughout the introductory list of parts we are making available today,” he said.

“While GR models are a pedigree of their own, the GR brand is not confined to only outright performance. The brand also conveys driving enjoyment and excitement, and this is precisely what customers can look forward to with the availability of these parts and accessories,” he added.

GR Heritage Parts project to reproduce Toyota Supra parts for sale

Round 2 of Vios Challenge to be broadcast live from Sepang circuit this weekend

At last, after the forced suspension of public activities – including motorsports – the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Festival can resume and with it, the second round of the Vios Challenge. As with the first round in March, Round 2 will also be run at the Sepang International Circuit this weekend (October 23/24).

Unfortunately, spectators will not be allowed to watch the racing from the stands as the health authorities do not permit such gatherings at this time. Therefore all the action will be broadcast live on the Toyota Malaysia website at www.toyota.com.my, and on the Facebook pages of Toyota Malaysia and Toyota GAZOO Racing Malaysia.

This second round is part of the fourth season of the popular Vios Challenge, a one-make series that has grown in popularity. As many of the participants have gained more experience with each season, the racing has also become more competitive. And because the cars are all technically similar – and strict inspections ensure that – the racing is close and what matters more is driver skill.

Round 1 brought out the best in all the racers, some going on to stamp an early sign of dominance in the opening races (two per round) of the season, while several newcomers demonstrated talent that have all the makings of emerging champions.

The Vios Challenge consists of 4 classes, including the Rookie Class which has 5 graduates of the GAZOO Racing Young Talent Development Program. These are promising racers who are stepping up from karting and sim racing to racing in a real saloon car for their very first time. There is also the ever-popular Promotional Class which has 10 local celebrities who are closely followed by their thousands of fans across the country.

*Some of the local celebrities taking part in the Promotional Class.*

The more serious drivers (not to say those in the Rookie Class and Promotional Class are not serious) are in the Sporting Class for amateur drivers and the Super Sporting Class for the veteran and professional drivers.

The battle of the rookies is currently being led by Naquib Nor Azlan, whose transition from sim racing to real racing has had little impact on his dominance on the racing track, virtual or otherwise. Naquib won the first two races of the season, closely chased by 17-year old Amer Harris and Mika Hakimi.

The Super Sporting Class see the dominance of professional driver, drifter and GAZOO Racing Ambassador, Tengku Djan Ley who was victorious in both season-opening races. Other contenders in the running include last season’s runner-up Mark Darwin, last season’s second runner-up Freddie Ang, and accomplished veterans the likes of Boy Wong, William Ho, Kenny Lee, Keifli Othman, Syafiq Ali and former Sporting Class champion Brendan Paul Anthony. Also competing in the class is teenager Hayden Haikal who was last year’s Sporting Class champion and has been upgraded.

An individual who has been equally dominant in the season opener is actor Zizan Razak who, like Tengku Djan and Naquib Azlan, also rejoins Round 2 with a perfect 2-race victory in Round 1 despite being in his first ever season of the Vios Challenge. Others competing in the Promotional Class include actor Shukri Yahaya, actress Janna Nick, presenter Nabil Ahmad and singers Wany Hasrita, Nabila Razali and Khai Bahar. They will be joined by singer/song writer Talitha Tan and television personality Ahirene Ahirudin.

The Sporting Class remains a class that is still too close to call with Adam Khalid and Haji Sutan Mustaffa Salihin each with one race victory to their name. 19 competitive drivers will be gunning for the chance of collecting more points this weekend and ending the season as champion.

“We are extremely grateful that the season can continue, and I am sure that all the racers are eager to get back into action. I do not foresee the long break having an adverse impact on their performance. Instead, like Round 1, the competition will be even stiffer and closer all the way to the chequered flag,” said GAZOO Racing Malaysia’s Chief Motorsport Officer, Akio Takeyama, who is also a racing driver himself.

The story behind TOYOTA GAZOO Racing and why it was created

Nathayos Sirigaya and Team Thailand tops in 2nd TOYOTA GAZOO Racing GT Cup ASIA (w/VIDEO)

This year’s TOYOTA GAZOO Racing (TGR) GT Cup ASIA 2021 Regional Finals saw 21 national qualifiers – from Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, India, Taiwan, and South Korea – competing against each other in the popular simulator racing event. They were battling it out not only for the attractive prize money but also a chance to represent Asia and compete alongside world players in the TGR GT Global finals to be held in December.

In the second running of the e-sports competition, Chou Yi Teng (Taiwan) and Nathayos Sirigaya (Thailand) opened the regional finals with leading positions in the first race for their respective groups. In the final round where the top 15 racers competed on the circuit used for the 24-Hour Le Mans race, Yi Teng steadily held his leading position through 5 laps to land first place, with other finalists racing closely behind him including defending champion Muhammad Aleef (Singapore). Overall, Nathayos – who placed third last year – clinched the winning spot. Yi Teng came second while Aleef came in third.

“I didn’t think I had a good shot at winning when I started in the fifth position in the final race, so I am very humbled for the win,” Nathayos said after his victory. “It has been an amazing experience racing alongside the best e-Motorsport racers in Asia. I’m taking away with me important learnings and experiences that will be immensely valuable heading into the Grand Finals. I am grateful for the opportunity provided by Toyota to pursue my passion for racing in the virtual world.”

The Regional Finals featured 3 races run on different circuits from around the world. The fight for the championship started with a semi-final race, where the 21 entrants competed in two groups using the GR Yaris. This was along the Tokyo Expressway – obviously not a circuit that would be used in real life!

Nathayos led the race and eventually took victory in the final seconds of the last lap for Group A. Trailing right behind him was fellow teammate Thanaphat Pungphat, as both Thai drivers stuck with each other throughout the race.

“The plan was to stick together in the qualifying round and work together to get to the finals,” Nathayos mentioned. With their plan playing out perfectly, the duo saw a total of 32 points in the team standings after the first round. For Group B, Chou Yi Teng (Taiwan) earned first place.

The top 5 racers from each group in the semi-final round proceeded to the third and final race, while the remaining 11 racers competed in the second race at the Fuji International Speedway. In this consolation race, 5 racers competing in the GR Supra captured the last 5 seats in the final race, with Andika Rama Maulana (Indonesia) finishing in first place.

After the exciting first two races, the third and final races were run at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium with the new GR 86 model, and then on the famous Circuit de la Sarthe which annually hosts the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race. The car used was the 1000 ps Toyota TS050 Hybrid which has won the event many times.

“We are overwhelmed by the support for GR racers in our second year of TGR GT Cup Asia. We are excited to see more countries participating, increasing the competition intensity. It was thrilling to see Nathayos and Aleef returning to battle it out for the global final entries,” said the Vice-President of Toyota Marketing Asia, David Nordstrom.

A first for the tournament, prizes were also awarded for the top 3 country teams. Team Thailand took home the winning team honour with 131 points, followed by Team Malaysia in second place with 84 points, and Team Taiwan in third place with 83 points.

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing takes first win of the new Hypercar era of the World Endurance Championship

3 Malaysians to compete in the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing GT CUP ASIA sim races this evening

Malaysia will once again have entrants in the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing GT CUP ASIA event which will be broadcast at 6:30 pm today. The event, organized by Toyota Motor Asia Pacific, will see Team Malaysia going up against the region’s elite racers from Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Korea, India and Taiwan for a chance to become Asia’s two representatives at the TGR GT Cup Global Finals, plus a Grand Prize of US$6,000 (about RM25,000) in cash.

Gunning to become champion in the second running of the event is Taj Izrin Aiman who finished second overall in the inaugural event last year. Compatriot Muhammad Iqbal will also be making his second appearance in the TGR GT CUP ASIA after finishing fourth overall last year. Both drivers earned their way to being participants by finishing in the top two positions, respectively, in the 2021 Toyota GR Velocity Esports Championship, where Taj Izrin Aiman winning his second consecutive title. Nabil Azlan is the third member of the team.

*The three members of the Malaysian team who will challenge racers from other countries in the region.*

4 races, including a street circuit
The TGR GT CUP ASIA will be contested over 4 online races with competitors awarded points based on their placings. The opening race will see drivers competing behind the wheel of a GR Yaris in a 5-lap race around the 7.3-km Tokyo Expressway – where the Top 10 will proceed to the finals.

They will then switch to a GR Supra for another 5 laps for the consolation race, this time at the famous 4.5-km Fuji Speedway. For this race, the Top 5 will be given second wind to be part of the finals.

2020 GR Supra GT Cup Asia — *One of the races will be on the Tokyo Expressway.*

Making its debut this season will be the all-new GR 86, and racers will take on 5 laps of the 7.0-km Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium. During the race, every car must make a mandatory pit-stop and also a tyre change, which means departing from the race momentarily. The fourth and final race will certainly be the most gruelling – 3 long laps of the 13.6-km historical Le Mans Circuit de Sarthe in France behind the wheel of a TS 050 Hybrid sportscar.

Aiming for overall victory
Besides competing for the individual Grand Prize, our Malaysian drivers will also be vying for the US$6,000 team prize pool money. For Taj Izrin Aiman, 23, two straight Toyota GR Velocity Esports Championship titles and his second appearance in the TGR GT CUP ASIA, will help boost his confidence and determination to take the overall title this time.

TS050 HYBRID — *The sim racers will use the TS 050 HYBRID racing car for the final race. This is the real car on the way to one of its wins at the Le Mans 24-Hour race.*

“If last year’s event is anything to go by, all I can say is that the TGR GT CUP ASIA is insanely competitive considering we will be racing against the region’s best drivers,” he said prior to this evening’s races. “The most important thing will be to remain focussed and consistent. You cannot afford to make mistakes in any of the races; if you do, the odds of bouncing back into championship contention will be anything from slim to impossible.”

His performance in the Toyota GR Velocity Esports Championship has been exceptionally consistent and almost dominant when he won two of the three races and finished second once earning him the overall prize of RM20,000. More than 800 participants participated in the championship which began with qualifying rounds in late August, before the top 20 racers moved on to compete in semi-finals held on September 18.

Racing in real and virtual worlds now
“E-racing has taken the country and the region by storm, and this has uncovered an incredible pool of talented simulator racers. Racing is an integral part of Toyota’s heritage and today, that takes place both in the real and virtual worlds,” said GAZOO Racing Malaysia’s Chief Motorsports Officer Akio Takeyama.

“Simulator racing technology has also evolved exponentially over the years and today it is becoming an increasingly important training platform to bring new drivers into motor racing. This is something we have already experienced first-hand with the participation of virtual racers in the Vios Challenge – street racing championship in Malaysia. They are not only capable of making a quicker transition into a racing car, but they are also excelling in racing,” added Mr. Takeyama, who is also a racer himself in the Vios Challenge.

Billed as one of the most lucrative local online racing series in the country, the Toyota GR Velocity Esports Championship was first held in 2018 and UMW Toyota Motor remains the first and the only Malaysian car company to be associated with fast-growing E-sports motor racing activities.

Similarly, the TGR GT CUP ASIA is also the only event of its kind in the region organized by a manufacturer. The Toyota GR Velocity Esports Championship was instrumental in inspiring the series.

Both the TGR GT CUP ASIA and the Toyota GR Velocity Esports Championship support UMW Toyota Motor’s ongoing initiative to bring motorsports to the masse, according to Ravindran K., President of UMW Toyota Motor. “Our objective in Malaysian motorsports is to cultivate greater interest, awareness and appreciation for the sport. There is also enormous talent both on the racing circuit and online, and we would like to bring this to the forefront in support of youth development,” he said.

The story behind TOYOTA GAZOO Racing and why it was created

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing getting ready new Toyota Hilux for 2022 Dakar Rally

Racing provides a good demonstration of the performance and durability of vehicles, and many manufacturers participate in various motorsport competitions for that purpose. Additionally, the participation also serves as a testing ground as the conditions are extreme, whether they are on a racing circuit or off-road in the desert.

Toyota has long been involved in motorsports and its official team – TOYOTA GAZOO Racing (TGR) – has been active in the top-level events like the World Endurance Championship (WEC) and World Rally Championship (WRC). In recent years, TGR has also given attention to the Dakar Rally, considered the toughest in the world. To date, it has scored one overall victory in the event which goes back to 1979. That was in 2019 when the route was run in South America after the original west African route was unsafe due to the presence of terrorists.

*TOYOTA GAZOO Racing has been doing well this year in the World Endurance Championship as well as the World Rally Championship and will aim to add a second victory in the Dakar Rally to its list.*

For the 2022, TGR will be trying hard again and aim to score a milestone victory in the Dakar Rally to complement the victories in the WEC and WRC. It is preparing a 4-crew team for the event which will take place in Saudi Arabia from January 2nd, 2022. Building on the experience from this year’s and last year’s events where the team’s best result was second place, TGR will continue to field a mix of experienced specialists.

As in 2021, the works team will be spearheaded by Nasser Al-Attiyah (the winner in 2019) and navigator Mathieu Baumel. Giniel de Villiers will be partnered with navigator Dennis Murphy; Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings will return for their second Dakar; and Shameer Variawa will now be partnered with navigator Danie Stassen.

The team will also be fielding an all-new Toyota GR DKR Hilux T1+, which conforms to the updated regulations for the T1 category. The prototype car, in temporary raw carbonfibre finish, is currently undergoing testing and will be shown to the public later in 2021.

*The Hilux used in 2021 (left) with the new version on the right which is now being developed for the 2022 event.*

Qatari Nasser and Frenchman Mathieu have won in the Andalucia Rally as well as the Baja Spain Aragon. The pair, who won the FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Rallies on 3 consecutive times, will be aiming to add a fourth Dakar victory to their resume in 2022.

Giniel and Dennis, both from South Africa, have competed successfully in the South African Cross-Country Series (SACCS), which also serves as a testbed for the continued development of the Toyota Dakar Hilux. They were in the lead of the title chase after 3 of the seven rounds that make up the series.

With a crash on Stage 5 of Dakar 2021 forcing South Africans Henk and Brett to retire after posting highly competitive times on Stages 3 and 4, they will be keen to show their pace, and mix it up with the more experienced crews ahead of them. Henk’s Dakar debut drew global attention, and the young driver from Johannesburg, who has won the SACCS crown multiple times, will be looking to build significantly on that experience.

*Nasser Al-Attiyah won the event in 2019 when it was run in South America.*

Following TGR’s philosophy of ‘making ever-better cars’, the team has continued to refine the Hilux and the latest version will be used for the 2022 event. This version of the Dakar Hilux has been developed based on the latest rules. It will share components with the race-proven Hilux that was first introduced in 2018, and won the race in 2019, but will feature a host of improvements including bigger running gear – tyres of 37 inches, up from 32 inches; together with a tread increase from 245 mm to 320 mm. The new truck also has more suspension travel with the previous limit of 280 mm now increased to 350 mm.

Under the bonnet will be a powerful 3.5 litre twin-turbocharged V6 engine, also found in the latest Land Cruiser 300. In standard form, the engine produces 415 ps at 5,200 rpm and 650 Nm of torque from 2,000 rpm but the more developed engine for the Dakar truck will certainly be significantly higher.

The Dakar 2022 route in the Saudi Arabian desert will follow a clockwise route this time. The race will start on January 2nd in the northern city of Ha’il and then head southward to the Empty Quarter. The rest day will be in the Saudi capital of Riyadh on January 8th before the race heads south-westward to the finish in the city of Jeddah on January 14th. The traditional Marathon Stage will see the crews race away from the main bivouac to an unsupported encampment for an overnight stop, before racing back to rejoin their technical crews at the main bivouac. This is a challenging part of the race, that often plays a major role in its outcome.

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing takes first win of the new Hypercar era of the World Endurance Championship

Belgium’s 56-year old Ypres Rally finally included in World Rally Championship

Belgium will become the 35^th country to host a round of the World Rally Championship (WRC) when the 2021 Ypres Rally Belgium is run. This should have happened last year but the event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is the 8^th round of the 2021 WRC and will take place next week (August 13 – 15).

Rally started in 1965
The Ypres Rally is not new and was in fact first run in 1965, 8 years before today’s WRC began. The event started one year after the town’s historic Market Square was chosen as a location for a time control during a Rallye Monte-Carlo concentration run. Since then, it has grown in stature, being a round of the European Rally Championship.

It is an asphalt rally and driving precision is a vital ingredient for a success. The farmland roads around Ypres are narrow and twisty, with many tight junctions. Brake too late or push too hard and a diversion into one of the many drainage ditches is often the result.

Corner ‘cutting’ is also commonplace, which results in mud and other debris being dragged onto the road. In the event of rain – a constant menace – an extremely slippery surface is created with the challenge multiplied on cobblestone sections.

New to most competitors
As well as being a new addition to the WRC calendar, Ypres Rally Belgium is new for many of the World Rally Car competitors. Only Thierry Neuville (who is from Belgium) and Craig Been have competed in Ypres before. Having won in 2018 and 2019 respectively, the Hyundai team-mates will be expected to set the pace when the 20-stage event begins.

“I’m really looking forward to Ypres. It hasn’t been in the WRC before but it’s a really legendary event that everybody in rallying knows about. In the test, we could already see that the conditions are tricky. Normally, the drivers are taking really big cuts and there is a lot of mud and dirt on the road, so the conditions can be really demanding and changeable,” said Kalle Rovanpera, winner of the last round in Estonia. “One of the key points going there for the first time will be to know where the grip is and to see how we can include that information in our pacenotes.”

Current WRC positions
The current positions in the WRC have TOYOTA GAZOO Racing’s Sebastien Ogier topping the chart. Having won 4 of the 7 rounds this year, the Frenchman has a 37-point over team-mate Elfyn Evans, with Neuville 15 points further back. Ogier is set to benefit from running at the front on the first pass through Friday’s sealed-surface stages, which are expected to be in a clean state.

With the WRC2 championship top five either not competing in Ypres or not eligible for points, several rivals have the opportunity to make up lost ground in the title chase. They include Nikolay Gryazin, who was a competitor in the ERC Junior Championship when he made his one and only Ypres start to date in 2016, plus Jari Huttunen and Oliver Solberg. The Nordic pair will be giving the Hyundai i20 N Rally2 its competition debut.

In WRC3, which has attracted 19 entries, Frenchman Yohan Rossel will be aiming to extend his lead at the top of the standings but faces strong opposition from a number of leading local drivers, many of whom have extensive Ypres knowledge. Among them are former Ypres winner Pieter Tsjoen, whose last WRC appearance was as a co-driver in Rallye Monte-Carlo in January, Belgian champion Adrian Fernémont and current Belgian championship leader Ghislain de Mevius.

The route
Located in the Flanders region of northwest Belgium, legs one and two follow ultra-compact routes north and south of Ypres respectively and comprise tight and twisty farmland roads lined by drainage ditches and telegraph poles. Following morning Shakedown, 8 stages – including the classic Kemmelberg complete with a cobblestone climb – are scheduled on Friday from early afternoon until late evening. Hollebeke, the rally’s longest stage at 25.86 kilometres, is run twice on Saturday August 14, while Dikkebus and Watou are among the Ypres favourites to also feature on day two.

The deciding leg on Sunday is all-new and located some 300 kms to the east with roads in and around the famous Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, home of the Belgian F1 Grand Prix, providing the challenge. While they are more flowing in nature, they are not to be underestimated.

New Rally1 category with hybrid technology for World Rally Championship in 2022

GR Heritage Parts Project adds Toyota Land Cruiser 40 Series to its list of models

The Toyota Land Cruiser has been around for 70 years and approximately 10.4 million units have been sold all over the world. In some markets like Malaysia, it was the first Toyota model to be sold, establishing the brand which would become a household name. In fact, the history of the Land Cruiser symbolizes Toyota’s QDR―Quality, Durability and Reliability

Of the millions that were sold, many are still in service. Being 4×4 vehicles, they have been ideal in less developed regions where the terrain is rough or road conditions are poor. The replacement parts for the older models may not be so easy to find as an industry norm is that original parts are produced for up to 10 years after a model has ended production. After that, there may be some third-party suppliers who will produce parts for the aftermarket business.

*Old Land Cruisers still in use by loggers in Russia (left) and fishermen in Oman (right).*

For those who own the 40 Series Land Cruiser (produced between 1960 and 1984), there is good news regarding replacement parts. Toyota, through TOYOTA GAZOO Racing (TGR), will re-produce a selection of parts for the model as part of the GR Heritage Parts Project.

The project is intended to re-produce spare parts that have been discontinued and sell them as genuine parts through a special collaboration with suppliers. This will address a shortage of spare parts that has been evident in recent years and enable Land Cruiser owners to continue to use their vehicles.

TGR has carried out preliminary surveys with exclusive Land Cruiser dealers and fan club representatives from various countries and gained useful insights into what is required. They have learnt that there is demand for parts related to driving, turning, and braking for the 40 Series Land Cruiser. These parts include engines, drivelines, and exhaust systems, which will be supplied as ‘heritage parts’.

*Parts will be re-produced for engines such as the Toyota 2F which was one of the powerplants used by the Land Cruiser 40 Series.*

Availability of the parts will be announced in the early part of 2022. Additionally, TGR is preparing a questionnaire on its website where customers can submit their parts requests. This feedback will be used in the selection of the parts to be re-produced.

The 40 Series Land Cruiser is the third model for the TGR heritage parts project. The company is already supplying selected heritage parts for the Supra (A70 and A80) and the 2000GT. In addition to the 40 Series, the company is also looking at the possibility of re-producing parts for later generations of the model.

Vaccination does not make you immune to COVID-19 infection. You can still get infected and you may not show symptoms but spread the coronavirus. Do not stop taking protective measures such as wearing a facemask, washing hands frequently and social distancing.

Kalle Rovanpera is youngest driver to ever win a round of the World Rally Championship

Kalle Rovanpera has become the youngest driver to ever win a round of the World Rally Championship (WRC) after he and co-driver Jonne Halttunen secured victory on Rally Estonia. At 20 years and 290 days, Rovanpera claims the record that was previosuly held by the man who is now his Team Principal, Jari-Matti Latvala (who was just over two years older when he won Rally Sweden in 2008).

The win in Estonia, the seventh round of the 2021 WRC, is the fifth victory in a row for the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team. Driving a Toyota Yaris WRC (which was built at Toyota’s factory in Estonia), Rovanpera led after all but two of the event’s 24 stages, held over some of the fastest roads in rallying. He took 6 out of 8 stage wins on Friday in a close battle with his nearest rival, Craig Breen (with Paul Nagle) in a Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC.

The next day, he pushed harder and extended his lead with some very quick stage times. By the final day, he had a lead of 50.7 seconds, which he ultimately extended to almost one minute with an expertly-controlled drive through the last 6 stages.

Fifth consecutive win for team
The team’s fifth consecutive win (and sixth from seven rounds so far this year) is the longest-ever WRC winning streak achieved by Toyota in its rallying history. All three of the team’s cars finished among the top five, with Sebastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia coming fourth and Elfyn Evans and Scott Martin taking fifth.

Ogier and Evans remain first and second in the Drivers’ standings, separated by 37 points, with Rovanpera up to fourth. With a cumulative 315 points, the Toyota team retains its 59-point advantage at the top of the Manufacturers’ championship, ahead of the Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team.

Another 5 rounds remain between now and November, when the Rally Japan will be the final event of the championship. The next round will be the Ypres Rally, the first time that the 55-year old Belgian event has been included as a WRC round. Part of the European Rally Championship, it has a demanding route along farmland roads lined with ditches. The final day will be run around the famous Spa-Francorchamps racing circuit.

Hyundai’s new Rally2 car
The Ypres Rally will see the competitive debut of Hyundai’s new i20 N Rally2 car, successor to the i20 R5. It will be at the forefront of a new initiative from Hyundai Motorsport and the FIA to nurture rally talent from regional championships around the world for the next 3 years. In the FIA Rally Champions World Tour, title winners from 5 series – in Africa, Asia-Pacific, CODASUR, Middle East and NACAM – will get a prize drive in an i20 N Rally2 at a WRC round.

The scheme will initially benefit winners in this season’s championship and the winners in 2022 and 2023 will be rewarded at WRC events in 2023 and 2024 respectively. According to FIA Rally Director, Yves Matton, the scheme will create a pathway for competitors from non-European nationalities to reach the top of the rally pyramid. “It will provide greater diversity in the FIA World Rally Championship,” he added.

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing takes first win of the new Hypercar era of the World Endurance Championship

*Visit www.bhpetrol.com.my for more information.*

The signs were good when TOYOTA GAZOO Racing earned a historic first-ever Hypercar pole position as the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) began its new era. TOYOTA GAZOO Racing, an early entrant in the Hypercar category, had its new GR010 HYBRID ready to go and locked out the front row in qualifying for the first round of the ninth season – the Total 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium.

Almost 15 hours of testing and free practice sessions had taken place earlier in the week when the #7 Hypercar of World Champions Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and Jose María Lopez led the field away, trailed by the #8 car of the team which had Sebastien Buemi, Kazuki Nakajima and Brendon Hartley.

Close challenge from Alpine team
After a dramatic and tense battle at the front, overcoming a close challenge from the #36 Alpine in second and their own team-mates in the #7 car, it would be the #8 car that won the race, getting place in the motorsport record books.

The 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, the first of six in a revised 2021 WEC calendar, was an incident-packed race. The Hypercars fought relentlessly from the moment the race started. The #7 Toyota was in the lead but by lap 11, #8 took over and the pair of GR010 HYBRIDs were hotly pursued by the #36 Alpine.

As the first pit stops approached, the race took its first dramatic turn when the #7 car was in the pits. Time was lost when the car did not leave cleanly, before Sebastien visited the pits a lap later. At the end of that stop, the fuel nozzle was removed from the #8 before the 35-seconds minimum refuelling time had elapsed, breaking a new regulation. This resulted in a 30-second penalty, taken at the car’s next pit stop, when Brendon took the wheel.

Drama in closing hour
With the #7 requiring a fluid refill when Mike handed over to Jose, the #36 Alpine took over at the front. At half distance, Jose was closing in and just a few seconds behind, with Brendon further back in the third-placed #8 car.

The battle showed no sign of easing off, and neither did the drama. Jose made contact with a GT car, slightly damaging the front bodywork. Then with just under 2 hours remaining, the #7 slid off the track and got stuck in the gravel, requiring a rescue vehicle to recover it before he resumed in third. It was the position that would remain till the end of the race, with the Alpine splitting the two Toyotas.

*A United Autosports Oreca 07 finished among the top five in the first race of the 2021 WEC season.*

“What a dramatic and unpredictable start to this new era for our team. Today was a strong start for our next generation of Racing Hybrid technology but we are still learning and improving with our GR010 HYBRID. It has not been the smoothest week for the team at Spa but this has highlighted areas to improve so we will work hard to do this before the next race, and particularly before Le Mans,” said Hisatake Murata, Team President.

The competitiveness of the Alpine A480 (above) was clear, and will be a force to be reckoned with throughout the season. “We had the satisfaction of battling with the Toyotas even though the strategies are obviously different because of the different technologies we use,” said Philippe Sinault, Team Principal of the Alpine Elf Matmut Endurance Team Principal. “Our first target was to reach the finish, and we did so. Although the podium was predicted by many, we managed to finish second by pushing the Toyotas. The assessment of this first race is positive, and we will work hard to aim higher at the next round in Portugal.”

Toyota GAZOO Racing reveals GR010 HYBRID Le Mans Hypercar for 2021 WEC

New Toyota 86 – to be called the GR 86 – revealed, on sale in Japan from October

The Toyota AE86 – also known by names such as Levin, Sprinter Trueno, Corolla GT. GT 86 and Hachi-Roku – was originally launched in 1983 as a sporty coupe variant in the Corolla fifth generation of what would become the world’s bestselling model. It was not the first coupe variant of the Corolla, nor was it the only one, but somehow, that particular model has become legendary long after it ceased production.

Low-priced sporty variants faded away after the 1990s as the sportscar segment diminished in size, leading to most carmakers not favouring them as the volumes did not present a good business case. Enthusiasts missed the cars although many had grown older and gravitated towards SUVs. But there were still those who remembered the sportscars and Akio Toyoda, President of Toyota Motor Corporation since 2009, was one of them. Wanting to bring back fun-to-drive cars, he encouraged the development of a new and sporty range of models that began with the 86 in 2012.

*The original Toyota AE86 or ‘Hachi-Roku’ as it is known in Japan. Produced in the 1980s, it is still a much sought-after model today and can fetch high prices.*

The modern 86 was conceived in the same way as the original with front-engine and, rear-wheel drive, delivering the sort of driving experience that was long missed. A total of more than 200,000 units have been sold worldwide, some used for motorsports.

When the 86 was launched, the GR high-performance brand was not in existence yet (although GAZOO Racing was) but in recent years, the company has promoted this new brand and used for models like the 86, Supra and GR-Yaris besides GR-customised versions being available in Japan.

After a rather long 9-year run, the 86 goes into its second generation as the GR 86 and again, its development was shared with Subaru which sells their model as the BRZ. Collaborating with Subaru makes sense given the potential volumes for this sort of car, economies of scale can only be good for a business case if they are combined by the two brands. That’s part of the reason why the Supra is shared with BMW although the GR-Yaris was a separate matter as it was intended as a ‘Homologation Special’ to support motorsport activities.

The BRZ, which made its debut earlier, has its own following and engineers from each company approached chassis tuning with their own philosophies. While the extensive resources of Toyota have utilised in the car’s development, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing (TGR) has focussed on the dynamic qualities of the new 86 with the aim of making it better than before.

Same size, more aerodynamic
The dimensions of the new GR 86, which will go on sale in Japan in the fourth quarter of this year, are almost identical to the previous model. It has a generally similar appearance to the previous model with the sleek coupe profile. The front end has been reprofiled for better aerodynamics and gets a GR-specific Functional MATRIX Grille. Some of the aerodynamic components have been developed for 86 models that participate in motorsports and include air outlets, side sill spoilers, and other parts that improve steering responsiveness and stability.

2021 Toyota GR 86 — *New generation has a improved aerodynamics with a restyled front end. Previous generation, launched in 2012, shown below.*

Limiting both the overall height and hip-point of the vehicle helps lower the center of gravity and enhance turning performance, and so delivering the agility required. Under the skin, body rigidity has been improved, with torsional rigidity raised by approximately 50% over the previous model.

The use of aluminium for the roof panels results in a lower centre of gravity, while aluminium fenders and updated front seats and mufflers contribute to reduced weight. Keeping weight low has been a priority and is one reason why an all-wheel drive system has not been adopted (Subaru really wanted it but Toyota was against it).

Bigger engine, same flat-four layout
As before, a horizontally-opposed flat-four engine is used and while this configuration is common in Subarus, it is unique for a Toyota. The flat-four layout places the mass of the engine further down, which is good for lowering the centre of gravity.

The displacement has been increased to 2.4 litres from the previous 2 litres – with no turbocharging – raising power output to 235 ps with 250 Nm of torque. Toyota has installed their own direct fuel injection and port injection system known as TOYOTA D-4S for fuel delivery. 0 to 100 km/h acceleration is claimed to be 6.3 seconds, quicker than the 7.4 seconds before, and customers have a choice of a 6-speed manual or automatic transmission.

More comfort-oriented cabin
The previous 86 interior may have been designed with a rather purist approach, so it had a stripped-down look like a racing car. However, for this new generation, there appears to be a bit more ‘comfort-oriented’ philosophy with a 7-inch TFT screen that has an opening animation sequence inspired by the piston movements of the engine.

The cockpit has been designed with the hard driving in mind, and sightlines as well as the seating position have all been set from experiences in racing. While the centre display is a touchscreen, the interior designers have provided either rotary knobs or rocker switches, both of which are easier for the driver to operate while driving (especially if wearing gloves).

Subaru Eyesight system used
Although Toyota has its own Toyota Safety Suite (TSS), Subaru’s EyeSight Driver Assist Technology is used for the GR 86 with automatic transmission. Like TSS, the Eyesight system has active safety technologies using radar and camera sensors to help the driver avoid a collision or reduce the effects of one.

The story behind TOYOTA GAZOO Racing and why it was created

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