Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda's Unwavering Passion for Racing: A Promise to Return to the Nürburgring
Akio Toyoda, the new chairman of Toyota and renowned as the company's "Master Driver," is not ready to hang up his racing helmet anytime soon. Despite being 67 years old, Toyoda remains as fast as the top test drivers at Toyota and is determined to maintain his title and legacy.
During a roundtable discussion with international media outlets, held at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Toyoda expressed his eagerness to return to the iconic Nürburgring. He fondly recalled how the Nürburgring played a significant role in shaping his driving skills before he became the president of Toyota and witnessed the birth of the Gazoo Racing organization.
"My starting point as a driver was the Nürburgring. Actually, for my debut, I didn't really have any driving skills yet. I was so afraid of driving there, and that's the only memory I have," Toyoda shared, reflecting on his humble beginnings. However, over the years, Toyoda has honed his driving abilities through experience in Japan and Asia, confident that he has improved significantly. He expressed his desire to have the opportunity to drive at the Nürburgring once again and immerse himself in the exhilarating experience.
In front of the reporters, Toyoda made a promise, declaring, "Next year... I will be participating in some kind of race at the Nürburgring." Although he did not specify whether it would be the 24-hour race like the VLN (Nürburgring Endurance Series), he reaffirmed his commitment to being behind the wheel at this renowned racetrack.
While it may not be uncommon for auto industry executives to engage in motorsports, Toyoda's passion for racing is deeply rooted in his connection to the products his family's company manufactures. Unlike many of his counterparts, Toyoda is not an engineer by background but has gained invaluable insights into Toyota's vehicles through racing. Training with the late Master Driver Hiromu Naruse, Toyoda learned how to communicate with the car, its tires, the road, and the engineers. He embarked on his racing journey alongside Naruse, including a remarkable entry in the 2007 24 Hours of Nürburgring with a secondhand Toyota Altezza.
Toyoda's mentor, Naruse, tragically passed away in a crash at the Nürburgring in 2010, a year after Toyoda assumed the presidency. Determined to carry on his mentor's legacy, Toyoda spearheaded the growth of the Gazoo Racing team's endeavours in various series, including the World Endurance Championship. Simultaneously, he continued to race, participating in events such as the 24-Hour Nürburgring race in 2019 and taking a parade lap at Le Mans this year in the hydrogen-powered GR Corolla H2 Concept.
As the Master Driver, Toyoda holds significant influence over Toyota's vehicle development. He has championed the production of several high-performance cars, such as the GR Corolla and GR Supra, ensuring their readiness before giving his approval.
Acknowledging the passage of time, Toyoda and his test drivers established a rule a few years ago. He vowed to step down as the Master Driver if his lap times were consistently 10 seconds slower than those of his fellow drivers on the same course. Age alone would not be the determining factor. Toyoda revealed that when he began driving the GR Corolla H2 Concept, he had a five-second gap compared to his test drivers. However, through his continuous dedication, he has narrowed the margin to approximately one second, reaffirming his commitment to his role.
"The time when I'll quit as Master Driver has become more far into the future," Toyoda confidently stated, underscoring his unwavering dedication to racing and his influential position within Toyota.
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