GT 86 in action

More often than not I find myself thinking that one of the reasons I like Toyota is because it’s a real company made of genuine people. No hype, no bull, just a simple mission – making good cars – and an honest way of going about it.

Today was such a day. I had the privilege to attend the Toyota GAZOO Racing Festival at the Fuji Speedway near Tokyo, Japan. The festival is an annual event, but this year was a bit special because it was the chosen event for Toyota to unveil the much-awaited, new rear-wheel drive sports car whose prototype version was known as the FT-86. You would think that a big car company would go out of its way to produce an extravagant show for such an anticipated occasion. After all, some have said that the car symbolises the “rebirth” of the company under the leadership of President Akio Toyoda. It’s also a kind of car that Toyota, and others in the industry, haven’t made in a long time: an accessible rear-wheel drive sports car that promises to be a true driver’s car.

Toyota GT 86

Our man on the ground at the Toyota GAZOO Racing Festival [Japanese link] in Japan, Jean-Yves, just sent over some pics of the official unveiling of the Toyota GT 86 at the Fuji Speedway. Before that, though, here are the details of the much anticipated rear-wheel drive, compact four-seater sports car.

Featuring a 2.0-litre, flat-four, boxer engine and D-4S direct injection technology – a potent combination of Toyota’s and Subaru’s technological advances – the driver-focused GT 86 is designed to recapture the intrinsic joy of driving. The GT 86 produces 200 DIN hp and 205 Nm of torque whose name lends tribute to Toyota’s GT car heritage and the exhilarating drivability of the Corolla Levin AE 86. More details here.

Driving Simulator at TMG

The countdown for Toyota’s return to Le Mans started just a few weeks ago, and our team at Toyota Motorsport GmbH (TMG), based in Germany, are in full preparation mode in the run-up to next year’s inaugural FIA World Endurance Championship. A little bit more about the team was revealed today with the announcement of the drivers who’ll be taking the helm of the new TMG-developed hybrid LMP1 contender. (Drum roll please…) Welcome to the team, Messrs. Alexander Wurz, Nicolas Lapierre and Kazuki Nakajima.

GAZOO Racing Lexus LFA at The Ring

Here are some pictures from the VLN9 race which took place last Saturday at the Nürburgring. The four-hour race saw some 177 cars tackling “The Green Hell”. Enjoy!

Toyota's 2012 Le Mans Contender (illustration)

So now you know. Toyota Motorsport GmbH (TMG) will return to the Le Mans 24 Hours in 2012, as well as participating in several races of the inaugural FIA World Endurance Championship.

As if the news of our return to top-level motorsport was not interesting enough, Toyota’s hybrid technology adds a new and fascinating aspect to it all. Variety is part of the DNA of Le Mans so expect a unique spectacle next season as petrol, diesel and hybrid cars go head to head.