TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Announces 2026 Development Motorsport Program

SUPER GT

GT500 Class

• The team will compete again in 2026 with the GR Supra GT500.
• Through TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Development (TGR-D), support will be provided to six teams with six vehicles.
• Rikuto Kobayashi will join the lineup as a new driver.

GT300 Class

• TGR will continue to support customer motorsports activities for teams competing with GR and LEXUS brand vehicles.

Japanese SUPER FORMULA Championship

• Toyota GAZOO Racing Development (TGR-D) will supply the teams with 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder direct-injection gasoline turbo engines (TRD 01F).
• Kalle Rovanperä, Rikuto Kobayashi, and Charlie Wurz will participate in the races for the first time.
• TGR will supply engines to TEAM GOH, a team committed to developing drivers who can compete globally.
• TGR will review the structure of KDDI TGMGP TGR-DC, a team for driver/engineer/mechanic development.

Japanese Rally Championship

• TGR will enter the MORIZO Challenge Cup (young-driver development category held within the JN3 class) with the GR Yaris.
• As in previous years, under team director Tomoyuki Shinkai (former TGR-WRJ driver through 2024), TGR will practice human resource development with its engineers and mechanics.

Nürburgring 24 Hours

• TOYOTA GAZOO ROOKIE Racing (TGRR) will compete with the aim of finishing the world’s toughest course with a GR Yaris that has been further refined through the 2025 entry.

Super Taikyu Series

• TGR will enter the series with three mixed teams of professional drivers, its employees, and gentleman drivers to strengthen the cars.
• TGRR will accelerate the making of ever-better cars by fielding the same driver lineup as at the Nürburgring.

ARA National Championship

• TGR will newly enter the ARA National Championship from Round 2 in 2026, with the aim of developing cars on North American roads and making ever-better motorsports-bred cars.
• The rally car based on GR Corolla will compete in the RC2 class (roughly equivalent to Rally2 level).
• The driver will be young American Seth Quintero, who will compete in ARA in parallel with W2RC.
• TGR’s employees will also participate as engineers and mechanics to conduct hands-on develoment of pit human resources.

W2RC

• Akira Miura, who has competed in Dakar Rally’s T2 class with Toyota Auto Body, will conclude his entry with Toyota Auto Body at Dakar 2026. From Round 2 onward, he will compete in the T1 class with TOYOTA GAZOO Racing W2RC, with support from TGR. After Miura moves to the T1 class, Toyota Auto Body will continue to compete in the T2 classs, which is designated for vehicles that are based on production models.

KYOJO CUP

• TGR will support the team entries and activities of female drivers with the aim of building an environment where female drivers can thrive in motorsports.

Driver Development

１）TGR Driver Challenge Program (TGR-DC)

• TGR will continue its program to develop drivers capable of excelling in top categories worldwide.
• Across diverse challenges, TGR will create an environment that expand opportunities for drivers to maximize their abilities.
• TGR will support the following drivers in 2026.
  -Kalle Rovanperä will race in the Japanese SUPER FORMULA Championship and Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy.
  -Ritomo Miyata will compete in the FIA Formula 2 Championship.
  -Jin Nakamura will enter the FIA Formula 3 Championship, and the Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy (FRO) .
  -Yuki Sano will compete in the Formula Regional European Championship (FREC) and Formula Regional Middle East Championship (FRMEC).
  -Rikuto Kobayashi, and Charlie Wurz will race in the Japanese SUPER FORMULA Championship and SUPER GT.
  -Kiyoshi Umegaki and Tokiya Suzuki will race in the Japanese Super Formula Lights Championship and SUPER GT.
  -Oscar Wurz will race in the Japanese Super Formula Lights Championship.

２）TGR-DC Racing School

• TGR will conduct training to develop professional drivers through the FIA-F4 Championship series in Japan.
• Details of the 2026 selection trials will be announced later. From the trial participants, outstanding and promising drivers will receive support for race entries in subsequent seasons.

３）WRC Challenge Program

• Based in Finland, TGR will conduct training in Europe to develop drivers and co-drivers who can excel in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC)
• 2nd-generation driver Yuki Yamamoto will tackle a full WRC season with a Rally2 car.
• 3rd-generation drivers Shotaro Goto and Takumi Matsushita will step up to Rally2 class; 4th-generation drivers Rio Ogata and Kanta Yanaguida and co-driver Tomiya Maekawa will step up to Rally3 class.
• Hiroya Minowa and Zeal Jones from the 5th generation will newly participate in the program in 2026.
• Jasper Vaher (Estonia, 18) who will join the program and compete with a Rally2 car. TGR expands the program by welcoming a driver from outside Japan for the first time.

Grass-root Motorsports

TGR will collaborate with circuits and local governments nationwide to provide opportunities to enjoy the true appeal of cars—controlling them and enjoying driving. The team will also implement support for those who aim to take on the challenge of participatory motorsports, prioritizing the safety of all participants.

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing GR86/BRZ Cup

• A one-make series using GR86 / SUBARU BRZ (ZN8/ZD8), delivering exciting, close races thanks to minimal performance differences.
• Competing cars are the GR86 Cup Car Basic and SUBARU BRZ Cup Car Basic, available for purchase at Toyota and Subaru dealerships nationwide.
• Two series: Professional Series (for professional drivers) and Clubman Series (for ambitious drivers aiming for the top). The 2026 season plans seven rounds at seven major circuits nationwide.

Details: https://toyotagazooracing.com/jp/86brz/

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Yaris Cup

• Competing cars are Yaris Cup Cars based on the Yaris with a 1.5-liter engine, and the series accept both MT vehicle and CVT vehicle entries. In 2026, the series will again be held nationwide, divided into five regional series to allow entrants to choose based on their place of residence, with enhanced support so first-time challengers can participate confidently.
• Some 2026 rounds will introduce a Novice Class for beginners, broadening entry options.

Details: https://toyotagazooracing.com/jp/yariscup/

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Rally Challenge

• An introductory rally with beginner-friendly courses, allowing first-time entrants to easily enter with peace of mind.
• JAF NATIONAL B license holders can enter not only with a GR Yaris or GR86, but also with HEVs and AT vehicles such as Yaris and Aqua—welcoming rally beginners and female participants.
• In 2026, TGR plans 12 rounds nationwide, including a special round, enhancing support to build an environment where first-time challengers can participate with confidence.

Details: https://toyotagazooracing.com/jp/rallychallenge/

e-Motorsports

• TGR will continue engaging in e-Motorsports activities to help create an environment where anyone can aspire to become a race car driver. Details will be announced once preparations are complete.