Toyota Redirects its Mojo from F1 to Grassroots Racing

**West** · 03-25-2010, 09:05 PM

Here is an excellent article from Motor Trend Blogs. Admittedly, I never made the connection on Toyota's F1 withdrawal and the recent focus on new and exiting cars. More importantly Akio Toyoda's expressing interest in getting back to Toyota's roots, and the release of the Toyota FT-86.

Come to think of it. Farrari, McLaren, Mercedes, Renault, BMW... What are you getting out of F1? Toyota is clearly getting back to its roots, that's a wise decision if you ask us, in any economy. Lets hope others follow suit.

To see recall-plagued Toyota staging a public track day this coming weekend at Fuji Speedway, where it will run several of its recently revealed Nurburgring-inspired road-going concepts including a supercharged iQ, is a step in the right direction. Weighed down by reports of unexpectedly accelerating cars and dubious brakes, not to mention its untimely withdrawal from F1, the world's No. 1 car company has taken a beating of late. But this fresh new batch of creative concepts is evidence that CEO Akio Toyoda's directive to produce more-fun-to-drive Toyotas is starting to sink in.

Now that I think back, there seems to be a clear correlation between the company's F1 withdrawal and its launching of a bunch of fun new cars, while simultaneously focusing more on its Nurburgring racing program.

At a function for the Japan Car of the Year jurors last September, rumors started flying about a possible F1 withdrawal. Walking into a large hotel room in central Tokyo, we noticed the walls were filled with photographs and posters of Toyota's racing program. But there was not one mention of F1 anywhere. Every poster on the wall was shot at either the Nurburgring or Fuji Speedway and was dedicated to the company's in-house racing team, Gazoo Racing. Not surprisingly, there was a special reference to the LFA and IS F -- Toyoda-san had strapped himself behind the wheels of both cars and competed in the last two Nurburgring 24 Hour classics.

As the man himself appeared a few minutes later, a video shot across a big screen in the corner of the room summarizing Gazoo Racing's efforts for 2009. Then Toyoda went into a passionate speech about how his racing experience helped him understand what needed to be done to the company's car lineup to make the vehicles more fun to drive. He also said he would support Toyota's ongoing grassroots racing efforts, especially at the Nurburgring. Not one reference to F1 was made.

To have such a high-profile bunch of journos in the room and mention nothing about F1 was certainly saying something -- without saying it.

But this about-face is exactly what the company had to do. It was hemorrhaging money in F1 and had almost nothing to show for it. Without a succession of strong podium finishes, the demerits of competing in F1 started to outweigh the merits. There was no doubt that a more grassroots-focused racing program, and road cars that are more fun and appeal to a wider cross-section of the international motoring public, was a healthier path to take.

That's why you are going to see more competitive versions of the LFA, IS F, and even the Auris appear in Nurburgring races, while cars like the FT-86 and totally redesigned 4WD hybrid MRS will surface in showrooms within the next three-five years.

It's just a pity Toyota didn't pull the plug on F1 three or four years ago -- if it had, we could be driving the FT-86 now!

Source: Toyota Redirects its Mojo from F1 to Grassroots Racing | Car News Blog at Motor Trend

**HyperFX** · 03-26-2010, 02:57 PM

I believe Toyota made a wise decision. First getting into F1 develped a strong race technology for the brand. Next bringing it to the masses will make everyone very happy. I've always been for grassroot movements because the fun in racing is gone with all those F1 rules. I mean look at time attack! An unlimited class brings everyone out of the woodwork.