Toyota City, Japan, May 30, 2016 - (ACN Newswire) - Ten years of hard work nurturing the right team is providing a new springboard for helping to build ever-better cars. This year, Toyota GAZOO Racing entered three cars, the Toyota C-HR Racing, the Lexus RC, and the Lexus RC F for the 44th 24 Hours of Nurburgring endurance race. Toyota GAZOO Racing is delighted to announce that two of its entrants-the Toyota C-HR Racing, and the Lexus RC F-successfully completed the race. The famous trial of endurance was held in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, from May 26 to 29.
Among a total race field of 158 cars, the Toyota C-HR Racing (car number 326, driven by Masahiko Kageyama, Kumi Sato, Tomoyuki Katayama(1), and Herwig Daenens(2))-a race-specification version of the Toyota C-HR that Toyota plans to launch at the end of this year-took 84th place in the overall standings and finished third in the SP2T class(3). In addition, the Lexus RC (car number 188, driven by Takayuki Kinoshita, Takamitsu Matsui, and Naoya Gamou) retired due to drive train issues, while the Lexus RC F (car number 36, driven by Takeshi Tsuchiya, Tatsuya Kataoka, Kazuya Oshima, and Takuto Iguchi) took 24th place overall and finished first in the SP-PRO class(3). The Lexus RC F was entered by Toyota GAZOO Racing alongside the experienced TOM'S racing team, a partnership that was formed with the aim of learning from the passion and know-how of the veteran TOM'S mechanics.
One of the principle aims of Toyota GAZOO Racing is to help Toyota build up ever-better personnel in addition to its ever-improving cars through the medium of motorsports. The 24 Hours of Nurburgring endurance race plays an important role in accomplishing this aim through the active involvement of mechanics, engineers, and test drivers from throughout Toyota.
The renowned Nurburgring circuit that serves as the venue for this famous 24-hour endurance race has a length of 25 km and is used by automakers from around the world as the ultimate proving ground for their vehicles. The 24 Hours of Nurburgring provides valuable opportunities to understand the limits of our cars and to nurture the capabilities to improve them under harsher conditions than a conventional test course. Beginning in 2007, the 2016 event marks the 10th year of Toyota's participation in the race under the banner of GAZOO racing, and our engineers and mechanics have already applied their experiences to a wide range of vehicle development.
The Lexus LFA and Toyota 86 are two well-known examples of production vehicles that incorporated lessons learned during this race. This year, we entered the Toyota C-HR with the same aim of learning from its performance and making an even better car.
Team representative Akio Toyoda made the following comment. "Ten years have passed since we drove our first 24 Hours of Nurburgring in a used Altezza. Since then, our drivers, mechanics, and support staff have joined together as a team each year with the aim of racing as many laps as possible.
"Over the last ten years, the efforts of Toyota GAZOO Racing have been supported by fans from around the world. We have succeeded thanks to the hard work and leadership of many people who committed themselves to seeing things through and refused to give up no matter what difficulties they faced."
"Our efforts to create ever-better cars and to nurture the people to achieve this are never-ending. As part of these efforts, we hope to continue to take on the challenge of the Nurburgring in the future."
(1) Test driver currently working for the Advanced Technical Skills Institute at Toyota Motor Corporation.(2) Test driver currently working for the Vehicle Testing Div. of Toyota Motor Europe NV/SA.(3) SP2T class: Consists of cars installed with turbocharged engines with a maximum displacement of 1,620 cc. SP3T class: Consists of cars installed with turbocharged engines with a maximum displacement of 2,000 cc.SP-PRO class: Consists of cars with a minimum displacement of 3,000 cc and allows a wide range of modifications.
Details of the race can be found on the Toyota GAZOO Racing homepage: http://toyotagazooracing.com/jp/nurburgring/
About Toyota
Supported by people around the world, Toyota Motor Corporation (TSE: 7203; NYSE: TM), has endeavored since its establishment in 1937 to serve society by creating better products. As of the end of December 2013, Toyota conducts its business worldwide with 52 overseas manufacturing companies in 27 countries and regions. Toyota's vehicles are sold in more than 170 countries and regions. For more information, please visit www.toyota-global.com.
Source: Toyota
Contact:
Toyota Motor Corporation Public Affairs Division Global Communications Department Tel: +81-3-3817-9926
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