Toyota Celebrates its Support of Derbyshire’s Raleigh-GAC Pro-Cycling Team with New Short Film

Toyota has been building cars in Derbyshire for over 20 years and is pleased to be supporting some of the region’s finest exponents of two-wheeled transport by providing a fleet of vehicles to the Raleigh-GAC pro-cycling team.

The link between the Burnaston vehicle manufacturer and the Derby-based racing squad is celebrated in a new short film which goes behind the scenes with the team and hears from its leading figures – both in and out of the saddle.

Toyota has released the film today – National Cycling to Work Day – on its official YouTube channel.

https://youtu.be/zZ1xxskDY_c

Toyota has provided the team with a number of hybrid-power Auris Touring Sports models, used to carry personnel, kit, spares and bikes (neatly mounted on roof rail systems) for training sessions and race meetings. Auris could not be a more local choice for the team, being built exclusively at the Burnaston plant.

This year the Toyota fleet, finished in full team livery, helped carry Raleigh-GAC throughout a victorious season contesting the British Cycling Elite Circuit Series. Sebastian Mora sealed the competition championship to add to the team’s fine roster of success, both in the UK and overseas.

Just as the Toyota Auris represents ground-breaking new technology with its highly efficient petrol hybrid powertrain, so Raleigh-GAC has also embraced advanced designs and materials for its competition machines, most recently with the race-winning Raleigh Militis bike, manufactured by the historic Nottingham-based cycle manufacturer.

Eddie White, team manager considers the Toyota Auris to have proved itself a winner as well. He said: “The Auris are roomy and very economical, saving us probably 30 per cent on running costs for fuel. It’s more than a car to us, it is actually our office and a workshop while we are on the road.”

Cherie Pridham, the team’s sports director and a distinguished pro-cyclist herself, said: “Like our team, Toyota has strong roots in Derby and the East Midlands, which makes its generous support all the more rewarding for us. The Auris hybrids have performed wonderfully well throughout the season, providing us with all the space, performance and reliability we need – both day-to-day and when we’re in the heat of competition.

“The film we have made with Toyota gives a snapshot of the role the cars play in helping us ultimately make it to the winners’ podium.”

Stuart Ferma, Toyota Fleet Sales Manager, said: “It has been great to be able to play a part in Raleigh GAC’s successful season and we are pleased that the Auris Touring Sports hybrids have fulfilled their duties with the team so well.”