GREAT EXPECTATIONS

Gazoo Racing to continue revving up the excitement for TMP's future

- By Kap Maceda Aguila

ELEVEN YEARS AGO, Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) presented a one-make series that was envisioned to not just safely scratch the itch of a burgeoning group of weekend racers, but to provide access to the spectacle for fans of all ages as well.

That was the Vios Cup, starring the bulletproof sedan product of Toyota that is still being assembled here in TMP’s Santa Rosa, Laguna plant. The ubiquitous car, stripped-down and fortified for on-track use, epitomized not only the durability of the Japan-headquartered car maker's vehicles but an earnest desire to promote grassroots motorsports.

The beginnings of what would be Toyota’s performance and tuning division, Gazoo Racing, were playing out as future Toyota Motor President (now Chairman) Akio Toyoda raced Celicas in the mid 70s. Together with the late legendary chief test driver Hiromu Naruse, Mr. Toyoda was logging hours behind the wheel of Toyotas entered into events such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans and others. To assume a lower profile, the Toyota executive used the alias “Morizo,” and substituted “Team Gazoo” for Toyota. Gazoo means “image” or “picture.”

Today, the images evoked when one hears of Gazoo Racing or GR are surely the exciting races of all manner that Toyota participates in — races that have served as the forge to make “ever-better cars.” The company stated that “roads build people and cars.” It is not wrong. And, it continued, “Toyota refines every aspect of its cars on the world’s roads and unsparingly applies the knowledge and technology gained in this way as feedback.”