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Auto Express
22-07-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Express
What is a Gazoo? And how does it make today's fast Toyotas special
Gazoo might sound as if it comes straight from the Black Lace songbook, but in fact it's Toyota's performance brand, which has gone from zero to hero in just under a decade, securing wins on both road and track. What is it, though, what makes it special, and why does it have such a strange-sounding name? To find out, we got behind the wheel of arguably Gazoo's finest creation, the GR Yaris, and headed to the firm's headquarters in Cologne, Germany, for an exclusive tour of its development facilities and historic racing museum. Producing cars for both keen drivers and the upper echelons of motorsport, Gazoo Racing is Toyota's motorsport division. However, those familiar with the manufacturer's history will know that it's not the only one, nor is it the first. Advertisement - Article continues below GR was founded in 2007, and Toyota's previous racing and road car achievements can be attributed to both Toyota Motorsport GmbH (TMG) and Toyota Racing Development (TRD) respectively, both formed years earlier. With Toyota having already secured victories in rallying through the Celica and Corolla, plus strong finishes in sportscar racing (including Le Mans) with the GT-One, Gazoo Racing arrived at a time when TMG was struggling with its entry into Formula One; Toyota was bleeding cash and off the leading pace, despite having drivers of the calibre of Ralf Schumacher and Timo Glock. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below GR was originally devised as a means to train up junior mechanics, with the goal of entering the Nürburgring 24 Hours race, and Toyota's so-called Master Driver, Hiromu Naruse, was called in to supervise. The concept of a Master Driver might seem a bit cheesy, but it's something Toyota takes very seriously, with the person bearing this title getting final say on the driving dynamics of the firm's cars. We sat down with GR's current Vice chairman, and three-time Le Mans winner, Kazuki Nakajima, who told us, 'Having a Master Driver is what makes Gazoo Racing really stand out.' Today, Toyota's Master Driver is Akio Toyoda, the grandson of the company's founder and sitting president. But it was only through intense training under Naruse that Toyoda was able to gain this title and take on his racing pseudonym, Morizo. Advertisement - Article continues below Nakajima famously told his corporate bosses, 'Somebody in [his] position, who doesn't know the first thing about driving, shouldn't make passing comments about cars. The least [he] can do is learn how to drive.' While such a comment in any other scenario would have resulted in the test driver being fired, the Japanese hold the utmost respect for racing drivers and their skills. This being the case, Naruse instead took Toyoda under his wing, setting him on a path of transformation. This would take him from what some might perceive as a company executive who'd gained his status thanks to his family connections, to the next 'Master Driver', and stepping into the racing seat himself. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below 'What's important for GR is that we always have our Master Driver,' Nakajima said. 'We can clearly say that [Morizo] is a true car lover. I mean the passion he has for driving, as well as his capability to feel the car properly, is real.' Gazoo Racing got its name from a website Toyota was operating at the time; was set up in the mid-2000s to sell second-hand Toyotas using photographs posted online. The name Gazoo itself is derived from the Japanese word for 'picture', and given that the name 'Toyota Racing' was already taken, Naruse and Morizo went with GR instead. Advertisement - Article continues below While GR's first racing entry in the 2007 Nürburgring 24 Hours was unexceptional – Team Gazoo finished a mediocre 104th – it still sparked the idea that racing could be an invaluable tool for developing road cars. With this in mind, Gazoo returned to the Nürburgring the following year with a mysterious development car, which bore the designation LFA. Yes, that's right; Gazoo Racing was very much involved with the development of what has become one of the most beloved modern supercars: the shrieking V10-powered Lexus LFA. Following this, Gazoo also raced pre-production versions of the Toyota GT86 – another lauded future classic – and continues to compete in the Nürburgring 24 Hours to this day. Nakajima told us that the philosophy of racing closely mirrors that of the GR development team, explaining that 'The cycle of 'Push the limit, break the car, fix the car', which we use in motorsport, is exactly the same as what's used on the road car side. Because of this endless effort, our product is getting better and better, and it's nice to see that customers feel that and share our excitement.' Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below However, disaster struck in 2010 when Naruse was testing the hardcore Nürburgring Edition of the LFA and suffered a fatal crash. Morizo reflected on the early days of Gazoo with Naruse, saying, 'Back then, I was overcome by various disappointments: the disappointment of not receiving any support; the disappointment of not being taken seriously, no matter what we did; [and] the disappointment of being belittled, no matter what we did.' Advertisement - Article continues below Morizo said that such disappointments are the reason why he champions the phrase 'let us make ever-better cars', and the team at GR appeared to take this rather literally, spending the next few years tinkering around and developing a hardcore version of the GT86. With Morizo designating Gazoo Racing as Toyota's official performance arm in 2015, the Japan-only, limited-edition GT86 GRMN (Gazoo Racing, Meisters of the Nürburgring) took learnings from Gazoo's time endurance racing with the GT86. It boasted more power than the regular car, along with a custom crankshaft, upgraded suspension, bucket seats and a fairly lairy aero kit. However, it wasn't the first car to wear the GRMN designation; that was, would you believe, a souped-up version of the iQ city car. Like the GT86, this was limited to 100 models and was only sold in Japan; unlike the GT86, however, a second version was sold later, packing a supercharger and more punch. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below The UK's first experience of Gazoo was the Yaris GRMN, which was limited to just 600 units worldwide and like other models from Toyota's performance arm, got a heavily revised chassis compared with the standard model. Putting out a healthy 209bhp from its fruity-sounding 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine, the GRMN was a tantalising taster of what hot hatch buyers could expect from GR in just a few years. Before then, however, Gazoo needed to make the jump from building limited-run specials to series-production performance models. That time came in 2018, with the GR Supra – the fifth generation of the long-running sports car and successor to the legendary A80 Supra. Advertisement - Article continues below Created in collaboration with BMW, the Toyota GR Supra was designed to be more focused than the soft-top Z4 with which it shared many of its parts – including the 3.0-litre straight-six petrol engine. Like a thoroughbred, the GR Supra has been developed to be as darty and frisky as possible, with a chassis that, according to Toyota, is more than two times stiffer than even the carbon-fibre tub used by the LFA. Around the time of the Supra's launch, Gazoo Racing was also making history because, after re-entering the World Endurance Championship (WEC) in 2012, the team won Le Mans in 2018. The winning car was piloted by Nakajima himself, with F1 legend Fernando Alonso, and F1 racer and future Formula E champion Sebastian Buemi. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below From here on, GR's racing success only grew, with two more consecutive Le Mans wins at the hands of Nakajima and team, as well as a win in the World Rally Championship (WRC) in 2018 with a rally-tuned version of the Yaris. However, with WRC regulations about to change in 2020 and Toyota feeling a three-door bodystyle would suit its racing efforts the best, the team at Gazoo Racing was set to work to build a full-on homologation special version of the Yaris, similar to the likes of the Audi Sport Quattro and Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 decades before. Advertisement - Article continues below The result was the Toyota GR Yaris: one of the greatest modern hot hatches, or performance cars in general, for that matter. Yet despite an impressive 261bhp output (280bhp in updated models), benefitting from four-wheel drive and reaching 62mph in similar time to an Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio, none of this is what's most impressive about the hot Yaris. You see, the GR Yaris shares only its lights, mirrors, and antenna with the standard car. Its roof is made of carbon fibre and the entire car sits roughly 6cm wider than the regular hybrid courtesy of aggressively flared wheelarches. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below Bearing this in mind, Nakajima explained how the Yaris specifically, as well as the GR brand as a whole, 'is symbolic because it [represents] a change of culture at Toyota, focusing less on the volume and cost-competitiveness of a car and more on making the best car possible.' If you've never driven a GR Yaris, it's important to try and convey how tactile an experience it is, and we certainly don't mean that in a sense of the car being draped in plush, sumptuous materials – something which it most definitely isn't. The gearbox, for example, is superbly rewarding to operate, with the gearstick perfectly positioned, a short-yet-satisfying throw and emitting the sort of deep 'clunk' whenever you shift that would feel right at home in one of those ASMR videos you see and hear online. Advertisement - Article continues below Plus, despite its four-wheel drive system being electronically controlled – drivers can select Normal or Track settings to adjust the torque distribution – the sensation of the car shifting its power around in order to maintain maximum grip is palpable, with the Yaris' rallying pedigree most evident when you're pushing on through the tight, twisting roads of places like the Peak District, where we've explored the GR's abilities. It's no surprise, then, that the GR Yaris and its rallying success – three World Championships since 2022 – has turbocharged support for the Gazoo Racing brand; the hot Yaris, for example, has been notoriously hard for buyers to secure an allocation for, while the GR86 (the successor to the aforementioned GT86) made the ticket sales for the Oasis reunion tour seem slow, selling out in just 90 minutes. Toyota knows this, though, and is beginning to lean heavily on the Gazoo brand with the launch of GR Sport trim levels across the company's line-up, bringing sportier styling and often mild chassis upgrades to more mainstream models. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below But those whose appetites won't be whetted by a somewhat sporty trim level now that production of the GR Yaris and GR86 has ended, should fear not; Auto Express recently revealed that the previously US-only GR Corolla will soon be available to UK buyers, with the car being built in Burnaston, Derbyshire, from next year. Advertisement - Article continues below In the longer term, however, the team at GR is looking at sustainability as part of Toyota's 'Multi-Path Solution' approach. 'There are a lot of interesting projects going on with which we can transfer our technology to [series] production,' Nakajima said. 'For example, with powertrain engineers working on our H2 hydrogen [WEC] racing concept, this naturally creates conversations of how to bring this sort of technology to the road.' Almost certain to have the GR badge when it reaches production, the FT-Se will be an electric sports car. Toyota has also hinted at a revival of the Celica and MR2 nameplates in the future.'For years, electric power [for Toyota] has been used for fuel economy, in both hybrids and EVs; as a driver, I think there's a lot more to come, and a lot to play with to create some excitement,' Nakajima hinted. Ultimately, GR's rise to the top has been nothing short of incredible, especially given the short time in which it has been achieved. Toyota's performance arm has managed to churn out future classics at such a speed that it makes the firm's renowned factory Production System look inefficient in comparison. Akio Toyoda is often quoted for his analogy of a tree, saying that 'when unusually rapid growth causes the rings to grow abnormally thick, the trunk weakens and is easily broken'. And while this is certainly the case for most firms, the evident passion and expertise at Gazoo Racing are likely to mean it'll be as solid as an oak for years to come. Did you know you can sell your car with Auto Express? Get the highest bid from our network of over 5,500 dealers and we'll do the rest. Click here to try Auto Express Sell My Car now ... Find a car with the experts Range Rover's secret mid-size EV: Inside its £500m factory Range Rover's secret mid-size EV: Inside its £500m factory We take an exclusive look inside JLR's revamped Liverpool site as the brand gears up for EV production MG4 and MGS5 EV prices slashed in reply to Government Electric Car Grant MG4 and MGS5 EV prices slashed in reply to Government Electric Car Grant In order to boost sales, MG is announcing its own a £1,500 grant for some of its EVs Chinese cars will take over as Britain's best sellers Chinese cars will take over as Britain's best sellers With a dramatic rise in sales, Mike Rutherford thinks it's only a matter of time before Chinese cars outsell all other countries in the UK
Scottish Sun
12-06-2025
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
Abandoned F1 track lies overgrown and covered in rubbish 13 years after last race as £255m of debt is racked up
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) FORMULA ONE will have two Grand Prix events in Spain next year following the announcement of the 2026 calendar. The last time the country did this was between 2008 and 2012. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 8 Fernando Alonso was the last winner of a race at the Valencia Street Circuit Credit: Getty Images - Getty 8 The track hosted five Grand Prix between 2008 and 2012 but ate up huge running costs Credit: Action Images - Reuters 8 It has now laid abandoned for 13 years with rubbish seen across the track 8 Weeds are now seen growing through the kerbs 8 Running costs totalled up to a staggering £255m in debts 8 The once picturesque harbour-view track still holds some scars of its past 8 Old sponsors and paint markings can be seen on the site The first was in Barcelona which remains a host for next year, while the second host - rather than Madrid - was Valencia for the European Grand Prix was the Valencia Street Circuit. Located near the port of Valencia, the F1 track record at the 3.4-mile circuit was set by Timo Glock in 2009 with a time of 1:38.683, though Fernando Alonso was the last race winner at the circuit. However, the track was far from popular with drivers for its mundane layout and eventually a lack of interest and funding saw F1 move away. The deal to bring it to F1 had allegedly been part of an election promise between former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone and Valmor Sport group, led by former motorcycle racer Jorge "Aspar" Martínez and Villarreal CF's president Fernando Roig. READ MORE IN F1 FAST TRACK Legendary F1 race to be renamed after 113 years with controversial new title But when Valmor went bankrupt through taking care of all the costs involved in running the races, the tracks seven-year deal was cut down to five and dug a financial hole worth £255million in debt. An estimated £87m is said to have been paid to Ecclestone, while there were also considerable costs for the construction of the circuit, television broadcasting and various invoices related to the organisation. All told, the Generalitat Valenciana had to fork out a bill of more than £85m to cover the losses. And the circuit itself has been left in a state of disrepair after being closed in 2013. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK Some of it was converted back to walkways for the public. But the majority of the track looks like something out of an urban jungle. One of F1's most recognisable voices reveals Leclerc and Hamilton moments that will live with him forever Weeds have overtaken the slip roads on the site, rust has taken root on old safety barriers, and access tunnels have been flooded. Buildings on the site look every hour of their age, with a repurposed 19th-century warehouse showing signs of needing a major paint job. The track itself has not fared much better, with heaps of rubbish seen lying across it while weeds and plants grow out from under the kerbs of the circuit. Pit markings and tyre burns can also be seen over what was not cleared away, while there is even still some evidence of race sponsors from never-removed hoardings to painted pavement which has faded over time. Thieves have also had their way with what was left at the site. Anything valuable that might have been left over from the days of F1 has been gutted out. There was hope for the site in 2022 when an investment group was in talks with the City Council to reclaim the space, turning it into housing and flats for residents.
The Irish Sun
12-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
Abandoned F1 track lies overgrown and covered in rubbish 13 years after last race as £255m of debt is racked up
FORMULA ONE will have two Grand Prix events in Spain next year following the announcement of the 2026 calendar. The last time the country did this was between 2008 and 2012. 8 Fernando Alonso was the last winner of a race at the Valencia Street Circuit Credit: Getty Images - Getty 8 The track hosted five Grand Prix between 2008 and 2012 but ate up huge running costs Credit: Action Images - Reuters 8 It has now laid abandoned for 13 years with rubbish seen across the track 8 Weeds are now seen growing through the kerbs 8 Running costs totalled up to a staggering £255m in debts 8 The once picturesque harbour-view track still holds some scars of its past 8 Old sponsors and paint markings can be seen on the site The first was in Located near the port of Valencia, the F1 track record at the 3.4-mile circuit was set by Timo Glock in 2009 with a time of 1:38.683, though However, the track was far from popular with drivers for its mundane layout and eventually a lack of interest and funding saw F1 move away. The deal to bring it to F1 had allegedly been part of an election promise between former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone and Valmor Sport group, led by former motorcycle racer Jorge "Aspar" Martínez and READ MORE IN F1 But when Valmor went bankrupt through taking care of all the costs involved in running the races, the tracks seven-year deal was cut down to five and dug a financial hole worth £255million in debt. An estimated £87m is said to have been paid to Ecclestone, while there were also considerable costs for the construction of the circuit, television broadcasting and various invoices related to the organisation. All told, the Generalitat Valenciana had to fork out a bill of more than £85m to cover the losses. And the circuit itself has been left in a state of disrepair after being closed in 2013. Most read in Motorsport BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK Some of it was converted back to walkways for the public. But the majority of the track looks like something out of an urban jungle. One of F1's most recognisable voices reveals Leclerc and Hamilton moments that will live with him forever Weeds have overtaken the slip roads on the site, rust has taken root on old safety barriers, and access tunnels have been flooded. Buildings on the site look every hour of their age, with a repurposed 19th-century warehouse showing signs of needing a major paint job. The track itself has not fared much better, with heaps of rubbish seen lying across it while weeds and plants grow out from under the kerbs of the circuit. Pit markings and tyre burns can also be seen over what was not cleared away, while there is even still some evidence of race sponsors from never-removed hoardings to painted pavement which has faded over time. Thieves have also had their way with what was left at the site. Anything valuable that might have been left over from the days of F1 has been gutted out. There was hope for the site in 2022 when an investment group was in talks with the City Council to reclaim the space, turning it into housing and flats for residents. 8
