Toyota Gazoo Racing presents 2023 race team setups
Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) announced today its domestic and international race entry structure and the outline of TGR GR86/BRZ Cup and TGR Yaris Cup for the 2023 season.
- The Hypercar category of the 2023 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) season will see a number of new rivals participate, and will also mark the 100th anniversary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Under the leadership of Team Principal Kamui Kobayashi, our aim is to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans for a sixth time in a row, and to secure both the Drivers’ and Manufacturers’ double for a fifth year in succession.
- In the SUPER GT and the Japanese Super Formula Championship, which are the highest categories of racing in Japan, our aim is to win both the Drivers’ and the Teams’ Championships. TGR will also engage in coordination with all related parties to enhance the motorsports industry in Japan.
- In Japan-Based Participatory Motorsport Events, we will use the TGR Yaris Cup as a way to expand the driver base, and work together with racing circuit operators to ensure even safer races.
TGR will continue its practice of making ever-better motorsports-bred cars and pursuing activities to enhance the appeal and sustainability of motorsports.
We will announce our plans for the Super Taikyu series in due course.
Major Results for the 2022 Race Season
| Competition | FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) | Won 24 Hours of Le Mans for the fifth year in a row and won both the Drivers’ and Manufacturers’ Championship for a fourth year in sucession Manufacturers’ Championship Drivers’ Championship (Sébastien Buemi / Brendon Hartley / Ryo Hirakawa) |
| SUPER GT | GT500 Class Ranked 5th Kazuya Oshima / Kenta Yamashita (TGR TEAM ENEOS ROOKIE) | |
| Japanese Super Formula Championship | Ranked 2nd Sacha Fenestraz (KONDO RACING) Ranked 3rd Ryo Hirakawa (carenex TEAM INPUL) Ranked 4th Ritomo Miyata (Kuo VANTELIN TEAM TOM’S) | |
| TGR-organized races | TGR GR86/BRZ Cup | 5 rounds featured (381 participating vehicles in total) |
| TGR Yaris Cup | 12 rounds featured (712 participating vehicles in total) | |
| e-Motorsports | Global TGR GT Cup 2022 held (23,000 participating) Japan BRIDGESTONE GT time trial U17 held (2,000 participating) |
2023 racing team setups
FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC)
- In 2023, we will continue to race in the Hypercar category (LMH class), which is the top class of the WEC. A number of new rivals will participate in 2023, which will also mark the 100th anniversary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
- TGR will enter with the GR010 Hybrid fitted with Racing Hybrid technology that has been advanced during WEC competition.
- Two vehicles will compete in the series, with Toyota Gazoo Racing Europe GmbH in Cologne, Germany as the base.
| Team | Vehicle | No. | Driver |
| Team name | Toyota Gazoo Racing | ||
| Team founder | Akio Toyoda | ||
| Team principal | Kamui Kobayashi | ||
| Vehicle | GR010 HYBRID (length 4,900 mm; width 2,000 mm; weight 1,040 kg) | ||
| Engine | 3.5-liter V6 turbo engine | ||
| Tires | MICHELIN Radial | ||
| TOYOTA GAZOO Racing | GR010 HYBRID | 7 | Mike Conway (UK) |
| Kamui Kobayashi (Japan) | |||
| José María López (Argentina) | |||
| 8 | Sébastien Buemi (Switzerland) | ||
| Brendon Hartley (New Zealand) | |||
| Ryo Hirakawa (Japan) |
WEC Team Principal & Drivers’ Comments
Kamui Kobayashi (Team Principal and driver, car No7)
“We achieved all out targets this year, winning Le Mans, Fuji and the World Championships, thanks to the big support from Toyota and our partners. But we start again in 2023 with even stronger competition, so we need to improve ourselves, making our team and car even stronger. The drivers are an important part of our team and I am happy to drive alongside Mike, José, Séb, Brendon and Ryo again in 2023. We have a strong team spirit throughout the whole team, particularly among the drivers, and we race together as one family. This is a big strength for our team and we need to trust and support each other next season, to be as strong as possible against the big competition in Hypercar. We are all looking forward to racing against so many manufacturers who have won Le Mans in the past. Winning Le Mans in its centenary year is a big target for everyone, so of course it will be difficult and our competition will be pushing extremely hard. This big fight is what we all want in motorsport and I think it will be really exciting for the fans.”
Mike Conway (Driver, car No7)
“It’s going to be an exciting challenge in WEC next season and I am really pleased to be part of Toyota Gazoo Racing for the start of this new era in endurance racing. It won’t be easy, that’s for sure, with so many manufacturers joining, but to have the chance to win Le Mans in its centenary year is a massive motivation. To see such a big grid of Hypercars fighting for the victory will be something special and I’m looking forward to being part of that.”
José María López (Driver, car No7)
“I am very happy to continue in the team for another year, especially alongside Mike and Kamui. We have a really close relationship and have become like brothers over the past seasons. There is a great spirit through the whole team and we will need that to face the battle next year, when the Hypercar class will be incredibly competitive. It’s exciting for everyone, the team, the drivers and the fans. I know the team is already working flat-out to be ready and I can’t wait.”
Sébastien Buemi (Driver, car No8)
“I’m grateful to the team, and Toyota, for the opportunity to participate in such an incredible season for WEC and Le Mans. It’s hard to believe that this will be my 11th season with the team in WEC; we have experienced so much together and it has become like a family. We need to use all that experience, and everything we have learned over the years, to be ready for the fight next season. Clearly our target will be to retain our world titles and win Le Mans again, which would be even more special in the centenary year.”
Brendon Hartley (Driver, car No8)
“The 2023 season looks like being an incredible one for endurance racing and our job certainly doesn’t get any easier. The fight between the manufacturers will be intense, and we need to be well prepared, with a fast and reliable car; there will be no room for error. It’s a real privilege to be part of such a landmark season. Thanks to Toyota and everyone in the team, not only for a fantastic 2022 season, but for giving us as drivers the chance to be part of the fight next year.”
Ryo Hirakawa (Driver, car No8)
“I learned a lot during my first season in WEC, so I think I will come back stronger next year, and even more prepared for the big challenge. It still hasn’t sunk in that I will start the season as reigning Le Mans winner and a World Champion, but of course the target is to defend those titles. Thank you to the team, to Toyota and all our partners for giving me this opportunity and supporting us to be part of a special season in 2023. We enjoyed the moment in Bahrain, but already the whole team is focused on preparing and improving for next season.”
SUPER GT
GT500 Class
- TGR will participate with the GR Supra GT500 also in 2023.
- We will support six teams (six vehicles) through TOYOTA CUSTOMIZING & DEVELOPMENT Co., Ltd. (TCD).
| Team | No. | Driver | Tires | |
| TGR TEAM ENEOS ROOKIE | 14 | Kazuya Oshima (Japan) | BS | |
| Kenta Yamashita (Japan) | ||||
| TGR TEAM WedsSport BANDOH | 19 | Yuji Kunimoto (Japan) | YH | |
| Sena Sakaguchi (Japan) | ||||
| TGR TEAM au TOM’S | 36 | Sho Tsuboi (Japan) | BS | |
| Ritomo Miyata (Japan) | ||||
| TGR TEAM Deloitte TOM’S | 37 | TBC | BS | |
| Giuliano Alesi (France) | ||||
| TGR TEAM ZENT CERUMO | 38 | Yuji Tachikawa (Japan) | BS | |
| Hiroaki Ishiura (Japan) | ||||
| TGR TEAM SARD | 39 | Yuhi Sekiguchi (Japan) | BS | |
| Yuichi Nakayama (Japan) |
Tires = BS Bridgestone YH Yokohama
GT300 Class
The team set-up for the GT300 class will be announced at a later date.
Japanese Super Formula Championship
- TRD (Toyota Racing Development) will supply 11 vehicles from six teams with two-litre four-cylinder direct injection gasoline turbo engines (TRD 01F).
- All vehicles will be equipped with tires made by Yokohama.
- Kazuto Kotaka, who was crowned series champion in the 2022 Japanese Super Formula Lights Championship, will participate for the first time.
| Team | No. | Driver | |||
| KONDO RACING | 3 | Kenta Yamashita (Japan) | |||
| 4 | Kazuto Kotaka (Japan) | ||||
| KCMG | 7 | Kamui Kobayashi (Japan) | |||
| 18 | Yuji Kunimoto (Japan) | ||||
| ROOKIE Racing* | 14 | Kazuya Oshima (Japan) | |||
| TEAM IMPUL* | 19 | Yuhi Sekiguchi (Japan) | |||
| 20 | Ryo Hirakawa (Japan) | ||||
| Kuo VANTELIN TEAM TOM’S | 36 | TBC | |||
| 37 | Ritomo Miyata (Japan) | ||||
| P.MU/CERUMO INGING | 38 | Sho Tsuboi (Japan) | |||
| 39 | Sena Sakaguchi (Japan) | ||||
| * | The team names are tentative and will be announced at a later date. | ||||
Driver Development Initiatives in Japan
1. TGR Driver Challenge Program (TGR-DC)
- To achieve a sustainable motorsports industry, we will continue to implement programs aiming to cultivate and produce young drivers who can actively compete in top categories in Japan and around the world, by discovering and nurturing outstanding talent and supporting advancement to the next level.
- Talented drivers are identified and, according to their level of skill, provided with programs for further improvement including SUPER GT, Japanese Super Formula Championship and TGR WRC/WEC challenge programs.
- TGR will support the following young drivers in 2023.
2023 TGR-DC Training Drivers
(All TGR-DC Training Drivers are Japanese)
| Driver | Race Category | Team |
| Kazuto Kotaka | Japanese Super Formula Championship | KONDO RACING |
| Hibiki Taira | Japanese Super Formula Lights Championship | TOM’S |
| Seita Nonaka | Japanese Super Formula Lights Championship | TOM’S |
| Miki Koyama | TBC | TBC |
2. TGR-DC Racing School
- The program aims to cultivate young drivers who are capable of competing in top racing categories, and to expand the base of motorsports through proper driving schooling.
- The schooling session is planned to be held in 2023 at Fuji Speedway. The details will be announced at a later date.
- Drivers with outstanding results will receive support from TGR to participate in races in the following year(s).
- TGR will support the following young drivers who compete in the Japanese FIA-F4 Championship series, the entry class formula category in 2023.
2023 TGR-DC RS Training Drivers
(All TGR-DC RS Training Drivers are Japanese)
| Driver | Race Category | Team |
| Jin Nakamura | Japanese FIA-F4 Championship | TGR-DC Racing School |
| Rikuto Kobayashi | ||
| Yuki Sano | ||
| Shunji Okumoto |
Japan-Based Participatory Motorsport Events
In the hope of expanding the enjoyment of driving, TGR will hold a full range of driving activities at venues around Japan in collaboration with the various regions and circuits. TGR will increase its support for people who would like to compete in participatory motorsports events such as races and rallies, while prioritizing the safety and health of participants.
Toyota Gazoo Racing GR86/BRZ Cup (organized by the Toyota Cars Race Association)
The TGR GR86/BRZ Cup is the successor to the TGR 86/BRZ Race, which was held for the previous generation Toyota 86/Subaru BRZ (model: ZN6/ZC6) for nine years from 2013 to 2021. The TGR GR86/BRZ Cup is a one-make race for the new GR86/Subaru BRZ (model: ZN8/ZD8); the cars used for racing are the GR86 Cup Car Basic and Subaru BRZ Cup Car Basic, which can be purchased at Toyota and Subaru dealers nationwide. The Cup is divided into the “Professional Series” and “Clubman Series,” continuing the two-series format of its predecessor. Many top drivers who currently compete in SUPER GT are also scheduled to take part in the “Professional Series.” The “Clubman Series,” on the other hand, is open only to gentleman drivers and other amateur drivers; professionally certified drivers cannot participate. One-make series are characterized by minor differences in car performance, and therefore promise closely fought battles. The 2023 series is scheduled to be held over a total of seven rounds at seven leading circuits across Japan.
Schedule (Tentative)
| Round | Date | Location |
| Rd.1 | May 13-14 | Sportsland SUGO |
| Rd.2 | June 11 | Autopolis |
| Rd.3 | July 22-23 | Mobility Resort Motegi |
| Rd.4 | August 19-20 | Tokachi International Speedway |
| Rd.5 | September 9-10 | Okayama International Circuit |
| Rd.6 | October 28-29 | Suzuka Circuit |
| Rd.7 | TBC | Fuji Speedway |
Toyota Gazoo Racing Yaris Cup (organized by the Toyota Cars Race Association)
The TGR Yaris Cup participatory one-make race was launched in 2021 as the successor to the TGR Netz Cup Vitz Race, which was the first-ever JAF-certified one-make race in Japan for road-registered cars and ran from 2000 to 2020. The competing car is the Yaris Cup Car; it is based on the 1.5-liter-engine Yaris, and includes both manual and CVT-spec models. The competition is divided into two series―East Japan and West Japan―and drivers can choose which series to participate in according to where they live. The support system will be further enhanced so that first-time participants in motorsports can also enjoy competing with peace of mind. In 2023, the competition is again scheduled to be divided into two series―East Japan and West Japan―and held at seven leading circuits across Japan.
Schedule (Tentative)
| East Japan | West Japan | Date | Location |
| Rd.1 | March 18-19 | Suzuka Circuit | |
| Rd.2 | April 1 | Fuji Speedway | |
| Rd.1 | April 23 | Mobility Resort Motegi | |
| Rd.3 | April 30 | Autopolis | |
| Rd.2 | May 14 | Sportsland SUGO | |
| Rd.4 | June 11 | Autopolis | |
| Rd.3, 4 | June 18 | Tokachi International Speedway | |
| Rd.5 | July 15-16 | Suzuka Circuit | |
| Rd.5 | August 20 | Tokachi International Speedway | |
| Rd.6 | September 10 | Okayama International Circuit | |
| Rd.6 | October 14 | Sportsland SUGO | |
| Rd.7 | October 21 | Okayama International Circuit | |
| Rd.7 | TBC | Fuji Speedway | |
| Special round | TBC | Fuji Speedway |
e-Motorsports
In 2023, TGR will continue as an official partner of the Gran Turismo World Series and intends to host unique TGR races that can be enjoyed by e-Motorsports players around the world. The details will be announced around March.
ENDS
