Toyota Gazoo Racing

Toyota Gazoo Racing (Toyota Gazoo Racing, TGR)

Definition and Historical Evolution
Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) is the global motorsport division of Toyota Motor Corporation, with roots tracing back to 2007. At the time, then Executive Vice President Akio Toyoda entered the 24 Hours of Nürburgring under the pseudonym "Morizo", alongside Toyota's chief test driver Hiromu Naruse and several colleagues. As the outing was not officially sanctioned by the company, the team could not compete under the "TOYOTA" banner, racing instead as "Team GAZOO". The experience proved deeply humbling for Toyoda—as development mules from European marques blasted past them on track, he felt as if rivals were saying, "Toyota could never build a car like this." That very sentiment became the genesis of Gazoo Racing.

In 2015, Toyota unified its various motorsport arms—including "TOYOTA Racing", "LEXUS Racing", and "GAZOO Racing"—to formally establish "TOYOTA GAZOO Racing" (TGR), positioning motorsport as the cornerstone for "making ever-better cars" and "developing top talent". In January 2026, Toyota announced a return to its roots for TGR, streamlining the brand name to "GAZOO Racing" (GR), while its motorsport operations outfit was rebranded as "Toyota Racing" (formerly TGR Europe). This formed a three-tier framework where "GR spearheads vehicle development, Toyota Racing handles powertrain R&D, and TG-RR serves as the bridge to nurture talent".

Core Motorsport Programmes

In the World Rally Championship (WRC) , TGR fields the Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 outfit. In the 2026 season, TGR-WRT wrapped up the Manufacturers' World Championship with two rounds to spare at Rally Chile. This secured Toyota's sixth consecutive WRC manufacturers' crown and its 10th manufacturers' title overall, matching the record held by Lancia. Deputy Team Principal Juha Kankkunen described the title as "simply unbelievable"; having contributed to Lancia's glory days as a driver, he has now witnessed Toyota achieve the same feat as a team manager. Across the 2026 season, all five Toyota drivers notched at least two rally wins, keeping the Drivers' Championship battle wide open with Evans leading the standings by 17 points.

In the World Endurance Championship (WEC) , Toyota competes under the "Toyota Racing" banner, debuting the upgraded TR010 Hybrid Hypercar for the 2026 season to succeed the GR010 Hybrid. The refreshed challenger features extensive revisions to the front fascia, sidepods, and rear wing, finished in a predominantly red livery that pays homage to the legendary Toyota GT-One. The driver roster remains unchanged: Conway, Kamui Kobayashi, and Nyck de Vries share the No. 7 car, while Sébastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley, and Ryo Hirakawa pilot the No. 8 machine. At the 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans, the No. 7 Toyota crew took top honours, snapping Ferrari's three-year winning streak.

In the World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) , TGR W2RC campaigns the DKR GR Hilux, built on the GR Hilux platform. At the 2026 Dakar Rally, all three DKR GR Hilux entries crossed the finish line, with Toby Price and Armand Monleón securing eighth overall, while Seth Quintero and Andrew Short finished ninth. The DKR GR Hilux clinched two stage victories throughout the event, with its all-new tubular chassis and reinforced drivetrain proving competitive under gruelling conditions.

Driver Development and Grassroots Motorsport
The TGR Driver Challenge Programme (TGR-DC) serves as the core of Toyota's junior driver development system. For the 2026 season, TGR-DC supports 16 drivers across various premier categories: Kalle Rovanperä competes in Japanese Super Formula and Formula Regional Oceania; Ritomo Miyata in FIA F2; Jin Nakamura in FIA F3; Yuki Sano in the Formula Regional European Championship; and Rikuto Kobayashi alongside Charlie Wurz in both Japanese Super Formula and SUPER GT. Meanwhile, the Finland-based WRC Challenge Programme welcomed its fifth-generation intake for the 2026 season, including 18-year-old Estonian prospect Jasper Vaher.

On the grassroots front, TGR organises entry-level one-make series including the GR86/BRZ Cup, Yaris Cup, and Rally Challenge. The 2026 GR86/BRZ Cup calendar features seven rounds across seven circuits nationwide. TGR also made its debut in the ARA National Championship with an RC2-spec rally car based on the GR Corolla, driven by young American talent Seth Quintero with the goal of "honing vehicles on North American roads". In North America, TGR North America manages a diverse portfolio across NASCAR, NHRA, Formula Drift, and IMSA, with the GR Corolla Touring Car having joined the SRO TC America grid in 2025.