Toyota Gazoo Racing, often abbreviated as TGR, stands today as the official motorsport division of the Japanese automotive giant, Toyota. However, its origins were far more humble, rooted in an experimental team formed in 2007. This initial endeavor, driven by a spirit of amateurism and a focus on hands-on development, laid the groundwork for what would become a globally recognized name in competitive racing and performance vehicle development. The
journey from a small, student-led team to a comprehensive motorsport entity reflects a deliberate strategy by Toyota to integrate racing knowledge directly into its production vehicles.
The Early Days: Team Gazoo and the Nürburgring Challenge
In 2007, the name "Gazoo Racing" first emerged with an experimental team primarily composed of students. This team was led by Hiromu Naruse, who at the time served as a test driver for Toyota. Their ambitious goal was to participate in the demanding 24 Hours of Nürburgring race. Notably, among the drivers for one of the crews was Akio Toyoda, then the vice president of the Toyota group. Due to legal considerations, the team could not use the name "Toyota Racing," leading to the adoption of "Team Gazoo." The term "Gazoo" itself comes from the Japanese word for "image" and was the name of a website Toyota was developing concurrently.
The budget for this initiative was quite modest, necessitating the use of older vehicles such as Toyota Altezza and BMW E90 models. To manage public relations, Naruse and Toyoda adopted the nicknames "Cap" and "Morizo," respectively. The Gazoo website played a crucial role in documenting and publicizing the team's efforts, emphasizing the amateur nature of the project. This early, resource-constrained approach fostered a culture of innovation and practical problem-solving, which would become a hallmark of the Gazoo Racing philosophy.
Expanding Horizons and the Birth of Performance Brands
The success of the initial Nürburgring venture allowed Team Gazoo to continue participating in various competitions at the Nürburgring in subsequent years. The primary objective during this period was to develop several sports models intended for commercial release, including vehicles like the Lexus LFA and the Toyota FT-86. Professional drivers such as Takayuki Kinoshita, Akira Iida, and Hiroaki Ishiura took turns behind the wheel, while mechanics and track engineers were selected from among Toyota's own employees. This direct involvement of company personnel ensured that the lessons learned on the track could be directly applied to road car development.
Tragically, Naruse passed away in a road accident near the Nürburgring in 2010. In 2014, the team achieved three class victories at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring, dedicating these wins to his memory. Following Akio Toyoda's appointment as the new president of the Toyota group in 2009, he chose to significantly expand Gazoo Racing's activities. This expansion enabled the organization of various sporting events, such as the 86/BRZ Race and the Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival. Furthermore, in 2009 and 2010, the "GRMN" (an acronym for "Gazoo Racing, tuned by the Meister of the Nürburgring") and "G's s/G Sports" brands were launched for road vehicles, marking the formal entry into performance car branding.
Unification and the Modern Era of Toyota Gazoo Racing
April 2015 marked a pivotal moment for Toyota's motorsport endeavors. All of the Toyota group's sporting programs, which had previously operated under a variety of names, were unified under the Gazoo Racing umbrella. Specifically, all teams competing with Toyota vehicles were rebranded as "Toyota Gazoo Racing," while those using Lexus vehicles became "Lexus Gazoo Racing." This consolidation brought a cohesive identity to Toyota's global racing efforts. Official Toyota Gazoo Racing teams also began adopting a standardized livery, featuring red and black stripes on a white background, further solidifying their unified presence.
Concurrently, the "Great Skills Training Department" was established with the goal of recruiting and developing human resources to support Gazoo Racing's activities at the Nürburgring and in rally racing. This initiative underscored Toyota's commitment to nurturing talent and expertise within its motorsport division. In 2016, Juichi Wakisaka, a long-standing official Toyota and Lexus driver in Super GT, was appointed as a brand ambassador for TGR. Toyota also acquired the rights to the first corner of the Fuji Speedway circuit, renaming it "TGR Corner." The engagement of actor Takeru Satō for various advertising initiatives further aimed to develop and promote the TGR brand, cementing its public image as a serious contender in the world of performance and racing.
