Toyota Supra to Make 24 Hours of Nürburgring Debut

Toyota will compete in the gruelling 24 Hours of Nürburgring, for the thirteenth year running, giving its Supra VLN9 car its competitive debut at the ‘Green Hell’s’ halo endurance event – its first 24 hour race.

Supra’s entry in the race marks a significant point in the car’s extensive development programme; a programme that has come full circle since the car’s entry in the final round of the 2018 VLN series.

Toyota’s participation at Nürburgring this weekend continues its long tradition of using the unique and punishing circuit to hone its creation of ever-better road cars – a tradition that stretches back 45 years to when renowned master driver Hiromu Naruse competed in the 6 Hours of Nürburgring, at the wheel of a first-generation Celica 1600 GT.

Another tradition that we will see in evidence this weekend is the presence of a team of Toyota engineers from its worldwide development operations running the garage throughout the course of the race.  This is considered a huge privilege, allowing engineers to develop their own skillset under the intense racing environment and help product development teams deliver cutting edge future production vehicles.  At the pinnacle of Toyota’s principle of using its racing activities to enhance professional and product development, this year, master test driver, ‘Morizo,’ will join the Supra driver line-up.

The Supra VLN9 race car has been specially modified to cope with the rigours of the legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife, though many elements of the car remain the same as the road-going version.  The VLN car adds safety equipment essential for motorsport such as a roll cage, racing seats and fire extinguisher.  In addition, the demands of endurance racing on such a tough circuit required upgrades to the brakes and tyres, as well as a new fuel cell and air ducts to aid cooling.  Experience from the car’s first race led TOYOTA GAZOO Racing to install further air ducts and new oil coolers to the updated car, prior to this weekend’s Nürburgring 24 Hours.

The Nürburgring 24 Hours takes place over the weekend of 22-23 June, with competitors tackling the full 25km, 170-plus corner circuit.

ENDS

Further information about Toyota’s participation in the 24 Hours of Nurburgring can be found at:  https://toyotagazooracing.com/nurburgring/