GAZOO Racing Lexus LFA crosses finish line

When the chequered fell at the Nürburgring on Sunday afternoon, both our GAZOO Racing and Toyota Swiss Racing teams erupted with joy, with mechanics and team members hanging over the pit wall to wave our drivers home. The GAZOO Racing Lexus LFA crossed the finish line 15th overall, having started from 32nd place on the grid. Perhaps more importantly, the LFA picked up a class win in the SP8 class. GAZOO Racing Toyota GT86 #166 also picked up a class win in the SP3 class, while #165 finished 3rd. Toyota Swiss Racing Team’s GT86 #200 surged back to claim victory in the V3 class despite losing #201 two hours into the race. More after the break.

First up, the final race results (places gained/lost versus qualifying positions):

GAZOO Racing

Toyota Swiss Racing

GAZOO Racing Toyota GT86 1st in SP3 class

If you missed the race, you can recap on our live blog coverage: Qualifying 1, Qualifying 2, Race report 1, 6 hours update, 10 hours update, half race update, 22 hours update.

To finish off my coverage on this year’s 24 Hours Nürburgring race, I would like to share with you something I heard during the team dinner on Sunday evening. One of our top-level executives from Toyota Motor Corp. in Japan gave a speech to congratulate the team and to pass on a message from President Akio Toyoda.

Toyoda-san said that the team’s achievement was down to great teamwork. Because the team was so gelled up, they were able to overcome difficulties during the race to end up clinching class victories. However, now that the team has achieved success, they should remain humble and accept the next challenge without complacency. Overconfidence, as such, will be more destructive than to allow the team to achieve further growth through improvement.

Within this message lies two key values at Toyota. It’s part of the Toyota Way. These two are “teamwork” and “respect”. All of us working at Toyota, whether you are in an office in Brussels or on the shop floor in Kentucky, are trained in this way of working. It may seem like common sense, but they give the company a great foundation upon which it can grow and continuously improve. From day one until the end of Sunday night, it has been an incredible practical demonstration of these values at work, and boy did it work!

Well done to the teams. Until next time…

Photo Gallery

Early morning rain shower	Flying LFA	GT86 #165 in action
#166	Swiss GT86 #200	Team celebrates
Drivers celebrate	Tears of joy	Fun & games

Videos of the GAZOO Racing Toyota GT86 #166 pitting for the last time:

GAZOO Racing Team

GAZOO Racing Team

Toyota Swiss Racing Team

Toyota Swiss Racing Team