| TOYOTA IN MOTORSPORTS |
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Tokyo — TOYOTA
MOTOR CORPORATION (TMC) outlined a three-pillar approach to motorsports in 2002,
focusing on its inaugural year in the FIA Formula One World Championship (F1),
engine provision for FedEx Championship Series (CART) competitors, and support
for various domestic and overseas activities, such as participation in the All
Japan GT Championship.
Since announcing its participation in F1 in January 1999 as a full constructor
(developing and building its own chassis and own engine), Toyota has made
preparations on several fronts to get its Panasonic Toyota Racing team ready for
the first race of the season this year — the Australian Grand Prix on March 3.
Three years of effort have included expanding and improving its facilities at
Toyota Motorsport GmbH (TMG) in Cologne, Germany, where the team is based, and
promoting the development of its F1 car, including performing repeated test runs
on grand prix circuits around the world.
In the CART arena, Toyota will provide engines for eight cars among five teams,
with an eye on its first manufacturer's title. In Japan, Toyota will support
teams participating in the All Japan GT Championship Series and the All Japan F3
Championship Series.
Aiming toward the continuous and long-term development of top-level drivers for
the future, Toyota will push forward with its Toyota Driver Development Program,
which it initiated last year in Japan and will expand this year overseas,
centered on TMG.
To give motorsports a more solid base, Toyota will sponsor one-make races in
Japan, including the ESSO Formula Toyota Series and Netz Cup races (Vitz Series
and Altezza Series), as well as support various activities in the United States,
such as the CART Toyota Atlantic Series.
This year, as in the past, Toyota's overall motorsports activities will be
overseen by the Motorsports Division of Toyota's Higashifuji Technical Center,
while Toyota Technocraft Co., Ltd. TRD (Japan), TRD-USA Inc. (U.S.) and TMG
(Europe) will continue to serve as local hubs for regional engagements.
Summary of 2002
Motorsports Activities
Formula One World
Championship Racing (F1)
Participation as an independent team (full constructor)
Drivers: Mika Salo (Car No. 24), Allan McNish (Car No.25).
Test drivers: Stephane Sarrazin and Ryan Briscoe.
Toyota Motorsport GmbH (TMG), as the team base, will handle team operations and development of F1 cars. (both chassis and engine)
Engine development and advancement in such areas as material technologies, electronic control and production engineering technology will center on TMC to allow broad and rapid improvement.
FedEx Championship Series (CART)
Toyota will develop and provide engines to five teams for eight cars participating in the FedEx Championship Series through Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. Inc. (TMS) and TRD-USA.
The new, advanced engine developed independently by TRD-USA will be supplied to all teams at the start of the season.
Other 2002
Motorsports Activities
Japan
Toyota will provide support
in the following categories through Toyota Technocraft Co., Ltd. TRD (TRD). TRD
is in charge of the design, development and production of competition machines
and will also provide technical support to private teams using Toyota cars in
various categories.
All Japan GT
Championship Series (JGTC)
Toyota will support teams taking part in the All Japan GT Championship (JGTC) Series.
Participating cars will be the Supra (GT500 class) and the MR-S (GT300 class).
All Japan F3 Championship Series
Toyota will support teams participating in the All Japan F3 Championship Series.
ESSO Formula Toyota Series
TOYOTA will sponsor the ESSO Formula Toyota Series of one-make formula races (a total of 10 races), which has been held with the support of ESSO (Esso Sekiyu) since 1990.
Keeping in mind the advancement of drivers to a higher class of race, new formula FT30 type vehicles, which feature carbon monocoque frames for enhanced safety, as well as radial tires and L.S.D., will be used from this year.
Netz Cup races
(Altezza Series and Vitz Series)
Initiated in 2000 under the concept of "from watching to participating", these
series have now attracted roughly 2,600 participants (about 600 in the Altezza
Series and about 2,000 in the Vitz Series).
Altezza Series
The Altezza Series is a nationwide series with a total of 10 races covering major circuits throughout the country.
Vitz Series of numbered races
The Vitz Series of numbered races will be expanded from last year's 25 races in four regional series (Tohoku, Kanto, Kansai and western Japan) to a total of 27 races in five regions, including an additional two series in Hokkaido, to promote further development of grass-roots motorsports.
Winners from the regional series will compete in a championship race at the Fuji Speedway.
As of February 2002, cumulative production of the series' TRD-MSB Vitz has reached 500 units.
Support for other grass-roots activities
Toyota will support teams participating in a variety of activities (Super Endurance Series, All Japan Rally Championship, All Japan Dirt Trial Championship and others).
This year will see the start of the Vitz one-make rally TRD Vitz Challenge (with a total of six races) as an event aimed at making it possible for even beginners with a B-class license to participate.
Activities will also include support for the Toyota Motorsports Club (TMSC), etc.
United States
In addition to participation in CART, the following support activities will be conducted, mainly through TMS and TRD-USA.
CART Toyota Atlantic Championship Series
Toyota's contract has been renewed to supply the 4A-G engine through the 2004 season.
Support for approximately 30 cars in a total of 12 races.
Championship Off Road Racing (CORR)
Support for teams participating with the Tundra and Tacoma trucks.
NASCAR Goody's Dash
Support for a team participating with the Celica.
Grand-Am Cup Sports Touring
Support for a team participating with the Lexus IS300.
National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Import Drags
Support for teams participating with the Tundra and Celica.
In the CART
Championship Series, Toyota will sponsor two races: the Toyota Grand Prix of
Long Beach, for the 28th time, and the 500 in Fontana.
Toyota will also develop 3.5-liter V8 engines for participation from 2003 in the
IRL (Indy Racing League).
Europe
One-make races will be held
for cars based on the 1.3-liter Yaris (known as the Vitz in Japan), with six to
eight races to be held in five European countries (Greece, Portugal, the
Netherlands, Germany and Belgium) during 2002.
Toyota Driver Development
Program
Concept
This program (actually a collection of programs) is aimed at cultivating drivers
to be able to compete in the world's top category. It is dedicated to
identifying new talent and to providing drivers with training and experience
that will allow them to steadily move up the ranks.
Programs in Japan
ESSO Formula Toyota Scholarship
Selection of several candidates at the Formula Toyota Racing School from among the top racing KART and Introductory Formula Series drivers (for drivers around the age of 20).
For 2002, Toyota will support the participation of Taku Banba, Kouhei Hirate and Kamui Kobayashi in the ESSO Formula Toyota Series.
Scholarship managed with the support of ESSO (Esso Sekiyu).
ESSO Toyota F3 Scholarship
Selection of several candidates through auditions of the top drivers from the Esso Formula Toyota Series. For 2002, Toyota will support Naoki Yokomizo, Tatsuya Kataoka and Katsuyuki Hiranaka from TOM'S in the All Japan F3 Championship.
Scholarship managed with the support of ESSO (Esso Sekiyu).
Toyota Racing School (School Head: Masanori Sekiya)
Continue preparations for ESSO Formula Toyota Racing School.
Training programs for scholarship recipients will be held to provide a wide variety of options including basic knowledge of racing cars, driving theory, mental and physical training, etc.
A new racing school that includes formula and touring cars will be established at Fuji Speedway (to open in 2005 on a full scale).
Support to drivers competing in the world's top categories
Toyota will continue to support from last year Toranosuke Takagi's participation in the FedEx Championship Series.
Toyota will consider continued support to excellent drivers competing in top categories.
Programs in Europe
TMG will
support activities aimed at nurturing future F1 drivers. Programs will cover
mental and physical training, theoretical knowledge of racing cars and driving,
as well as and public relations and language training.
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Copyright 2002 Toyota Motor Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
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