■The journey of GAZOO Racing

A challenge born of humiliation

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing has promoted the making of ever-better cars and the fostering of talent by taking on the challenge of competing in various motorsports categories both in Japan and abroad.

GAZOO Racing traces its origins back to 2007, when Akio Toyoda (then executive vice president) competed in the Nürburgring 24 Hours endurance race alongside driving mentor and Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) Master Driver Hiromu Naruse and several other colleagues.

At the time, because competing in the race was not recognized by TMC as an official company activity, the team was not permitted to use “TOYOTA” in its name, and thus entered under the name “Team GAZOO”. Furthermore, as Toyoda’s intention to drive in the race was unable to gain much understanding, his only choice was to compete under the driver name “Morizo”. Although the team managed to finish the race, the achievement immediately came with a sense of humiliation. That was because, while many other, mainly European, competitors were putting under-development cars through their paces in the race, Toyota did not have such a car, let alone any sports cars in its sales lineup, and was on the verge of losing its ability to pass on its car-making skills and expertise. When overtaken on the track by other manufacturers’ development vehicles, Toyoda felt as if he could hear rivals say: “No way that you guys at Toyota could build a car like this!”, igniting a sense of humiliation that he still vividly recalls to this day.

The Shikinen Sengu of car-making sustained by conviction

Sports car development demands an approach to manufacturing that not only improves a car’s characteristics and fundamental performance by also strives to make a car failure-proof even in harsh environments. All such efforts also contribute to the development of mass-production cars. At the same time, the front lines of motorsports provide numerous opportunities to hone car-making skills and foster talent.

At Ise Shrine in Japan’s Mie Prefecture, traditions and skills are passed down through a ritual known as “Shikinen Sengu”, which entails all of the shrine’s structures being rebuilt every 20 years. Similarly, sports car manufacturing has traditions and skills that cannot be passed down once they are lost. Armed with a sense of crisis that TMC would become a company incapable of building sports cars, Toyoda initiated the development of the Lexus LFA, choosing the Nürburgring course as the car’s main development site.

Launched in 2010, the LFA was TMC’s first authentic sports car developed in-house in approximately 20 years. It was the result of a project that faced enormous difficulties, including a lack of wholehearted support within the company for car-making that was deemed by some to be unprofitable, as evidenced by the fact that development was permitted to proceed under the condition that only 500 units would be sold.

Just before the LFA’s release, the unthinkable happened: Naruse passed away in an accident near the Nürburgring. The calamity occurred not long after LFA development had concluded and Naruse, as master driver, had given his approval by saying, “Let’s go with this.” For Toyoda, suddenly being without his driving mentor and TMC’s master driver came with an immense sense of loss.

However, Toyoda, remaining steadfast in his conviction that cars and talent are honed on the front lines of motorsports, continued to pursue sports car development. Then came the revival of the 86 in 2012 and the GR Supra in 2019. However, the development of these models relied on Subaru and BMW, respectively, meaning that TMC was not able to achieve the complete in-house creation of a sports car.

The launch of TOYOTA GAZOO Racing

In April 2015, TMC decided to consolidate its in-house motorsports activities, including those under the banners of “TOYOTA Racing”, “LEXUS Racing”, and “GAZOO Racing”, under the unified “GAZOO” name, upon which it adopted the logo “TOYOTA GAZOO Racing”. It was a development that marked the moment when activities that could not use “TOYOTA” back in 2007 could finally bear the company’s name. However, even though those activities had officially come under the umbrella of a large corporation, the original sense of humiliation that had driven Toyoda and Naruse began to fade.

The never-ending pursuit of making ever-better cars

Toyoda, then as president, decided that TMC would return to the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) to further evolve its activities to make ever-better cars. Returning to the WRC, in which competing vehicles are based on production vehicles, marked a major turning point in TMC’s motorsports activities.

Until then, TMC had developed its motorsports vehicles based on already completed production vehicles. However, after returning to the WRC, it began a new approach to car-making that reversed the conventional order by first creating a car capable of winning in the WRC and then turning that car into a production vehicle. This led to the launch in 2020 of the GR Yaris, a Toyota in-house-developed sports car, under the philosophy of making ever-better motorsports-bred cars.

The GR Yaris, which was unveiled at the Tokyo Auto Salon in January of that year and recorded its maiden victory in a Super Taikyu Series 24-hour race that September, began to be seen in action in motorsports events around the around, eventually leading to the development and launch of the GR Corolla. It was exactly this achievement that revived TMC’s in-house production of sports cars capable of winning in motorsports.

In 2025, Toyota returned to the Nürburgring 24 Hours race for the first time in six years, fielding a GR Yaris. While behind the wheel, Toyoda, who is TMC’s current master driver, says that he conversed with Naruse. Only TMC’s two master drivers know what they talked about.

For Toyoda, the next challenge was to conduct a true Shikinen Sengu in the form of TMC creating the ultimate in sports cars. As such, the GR GT, GR GT3, and LFA Concept premiered in 2025.

TGR’s journey of the motorsports-bred making of ever-better cars and the fostering of talent is without end. It will soon be 20 years since Team GAZOO came to be in 2007.

“No way that you guys at Toyota could build a car like this!” The humiliation felt by Hiromu Naruse and Akio Toyoda was the starting point of it all.

TGR would like to extend its sincere gratitude to everyone in the world of motorsports, its partners, and its fans for their unwavering commitment.

Together with all stakeholders, TGR—under the name “GAZOO Racing”—intends to continue making ever-better motorsports-bred cars and fostering the talents of drivers, engineers, and mechanics.

TGR looks forward to everyone’s continued support.

Furthermore, TMC’s research and development center in Cologne, Germany (TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Europe), under the new name “TOYOTA RACING”, is to specialize in motorsports activities through its advanced development technologies, promoting long-term technological development in engine development and other areas. The technologies that it develops are to continue to be introduced in various motorsports scenarios, including the world’s top on-track races as well as rallies, in the pursuit of further improvement.

■TGRR

TGRR (TOYOTA GAZOO ROOKIE Racing) is to continue its current activities. As an entity that bears in its name the “T” of TOYOTA Racing and the “G” of GAZOO Racing, it intends to serve as a bridge between the two, honing in motorsports as a racing team the products and technologies each develops, while also functioning as a practical training ground (dojo) that fosters talent.

Logo transition is planned for completion in stages by January 2027.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Racing fans all across the Mid-South have something to look forward to on Wednesday as there will be a groundbreaking ceremony at the former Memphis Motorsports Park in Millington.

The ceremony will begin at 2 p.m., and it will mark a new era of redevelopment for racing in the Mid-South. This comes after the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) closed on the property several weeks ago.

The owners plan to turn the Memphis International Raceway into a multi-use destination with drag racing, other motorsports, and large community events.

The IHRA president said their goal is to build this back into a national and eventually international destination.

“You know, I think that we will host large national and international events here. And I think we’ll see that in three years. We’re bringing a national nitro series here for this year,” Leah Martin, IHRA president, stated.

IHRA also said it is looking to bring back additional racing, including dirt track, and to add an amphitheater for concerts.

Steve Phelps became NASCAR’s first Commissioner in March of 2025 after previously working as the president of NASCAR since 2018.

However, he will leave that position at the end of January, and NASCAR does not plan to replace the role of Commissioner for the time being. Instead, his duties will be shared by other existing executives. As for why there won’t be someone else appointed to the role of Commissioner, NASCAR said that this change “comes during a time of stability with an exceptional leadership team in place that ensures the continuity of NASCAR’s strategic vision and critical execution.”

NASCAR also called it a ‘personal decision’ by Phelps to leave, who released the following statement:

“As a lifelong race fan, it gives me immense pride to have served as NASCAR’s first Commissioner and to lead our great sport through so many incredible challenges, opportunities and firsts over my 20 years,” said Phelps. Our sport is built on the passion of our fans, the dedication of our teams and partners, and the commitment of our wonderful employees. It has been an honor to help synthesize the enthusiasm of long-standing NASCAR stakeholders with that of new entrants to our ecosystem, such as media partners, auto manufacturers, track operators, and incredible racing talent.

Nascar Commissioner Steve Phelps

Photo by: Sean Gardner / Getty Images

“As I embark on new pursuits in sports and other industries, I want to thank the many colleagues, friends, and especially the fans that have played such an important and motivational role in my career. Words cannot fully convey the deep appreciation I have for this life-changing experience, for the trust of the France family, and for having a place in NASCAR’s amazing history.”

No reason was given for his departure and he was praised throughout the news release, but Phelps hasn’t been the most popular man in the garage in recent months. He was criticized heavily for some controversial comments that came out during the 23XI/FRM vs. NASCAR antitrust lawsuit, which ended with a settlement partway through the trial. In unsealed documents showing messages between NASCAR leadership, Phelps called longtime team owner Richard Childress a “stupid redneck” and suggested he needed to be flogged.

This sparked widespread condemnation, and in the middle of the trial, Bass Pro Shops CEO Johnny Morris published a scathing letter in defense of Childress, and implied that he would like to see Phelps removed from his position. 

Speaking on his departure, NASCAR Chairman and CEO Jim France said: “Steve will forever be remembered as one of NASCAR’s most impactful leaders. For decades he has worked tirelessly to thrill fans, support teams and execute a vision for the sport that has treated us all to some of the greatest moments in our nearly 80-year history. It’s been an honor to work alongside him in achieving the impossible like being the first sport to return during Covid, or in delivering the unimaginable by launching new races in the LA Memorial Coliseum and NASCAR’s first-ever street race in downtown Chicago. Steve leaves NASCAR with a transformative legacy of innovation and collaboration with an unrelenting growth mindset.”

We want your opinion!

– The Motorsport.com Team

Racer Media & Marketing, Inc. (RACER), the premier North American authority on motorsports and car culture, today announced the appointment of CJ Olivares as Group CEO. Olivares, who currently serves as President of RACER Network LLC (RACER Network), will expand his leadership to include strategic and day-to-day oversight of the operations of RACER. He succeeds RACER founder Paul Pfanner, who departs the CEO role after three decades.

A decorated 35-year media executive, Olivares brings a distinguished record of building and scaling high-growth digital, linear, FAST and streaming businesses. He is widely recognized for founding Fox Sports’ FUEL TV, where he successfully transformed niche action sports into a dominant cultural force. In the last year, Olivares has spearheaded the integration and rebranding of the RACER Network (formerly MAVTV), driving significant gains in distribution and 50% year-over-year viewership growth through a commitment to diversified racing and automotive programming, as well as narratively-driven storytelling that humanizes the stars of the sport.

“CJ’s strategic expertise and operational depth make him the ideal leader to guide our unified and multifaceted RACER-branded platforms into the next era,” said Chris Dyson, who serves as the Chairman of the Board of both RACER and the RACER Network. “His ability to marry the brand’s outstanding reporting and unique storytelling with modern broadcast and digital delivery ensures that RACER will continue to lead the motorsports media landscape.”

This step represents material progress in a multi-year effort to leverage the RACER companies’ historically distinct media assets to create an integrated content and services powerhouse designed for the modern media era, and sets the stage for the more closely aligned RACER-branded properties to build on the 1.5 billion impressions delivered in 2025.

Olivares leads a RACER group platform encompassing a comprehensive suite of media and service offerings: the RACER Network (television and streaming), RACER Digital (web and app), RACER Podcasts, the RACER Creator Network, the authoritative and collectible RACER Magazine and the creative agency RACER Studio. This streamlined offering is designed to provide a seamless experience for fans and a 360-degree solution for commercial partners. 

“The media and marketing landscapes are evolving at a breakneck pace, and the RACER platform is now uniquely positioned to lead that charge in the motorsports and car culture space,” said Olivares. “Our focus moving forward is twofold: diversify our content offering to engage the transformative influx of new racing fans and automotive enthusiasts, and energize our revenue streams through innovative brand partnerships and aggressive subscription growth. We are building the definitive ‘campfire’ for motorsports and car culture.”

Olivares’ strategy emphasizes human-centric storytelling and digital-first accessibility. By leveraging the RACER Creator Network and the high-end production capabilities of RACER Studio, he aims to expand engagement across all platforms—from traditional broadcast to social media—ensuring the brand’s continued dominance in both the motorsports and automotive space.

About Racer Media & Marketing

Founded in 1992, RACER is the premier motorsports media brand in North America, delivering industry-leading content across multiple platforms, including the newly launched RACER Creator Network and RACER Podcasts along with motorsport culture-defining touchstones RACER.com and RACER magazine. The company also operates a strategic consulting, branding and marketing agency – RACER Studio – and produces live streamed events. Its clients have included BMW, Dodge SRT, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Mazda, Porsche, Toyota, IMSA, IndyCar, Laguna Seca, SCCA, Trans-Am, Monster Energy, American Legion, Lime Rock Park, Piloti, and many others. 

About MAVTV (Now RACER Network)

RACER Network, formerly MAVTV, is the premier motorsports broadcast and digital platform dedicated exclusively to delivering the most comprehensive motorsports and automotive enthusiast content across cable TV, FAST channels and streaming. With a passion for the culture at its core, RACER Network offers an unparalleled lineup of live racing, documentary series, news and analysis, and car culture shows high-quality original programming to millions of fans worldwide.

TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) — Two people riding a dirt bike were killed after colliding with a Kia SUV at the intersection of East 22nd Street and South Country Club Road late Monday night, the Tucson Police Department said.

The crash occurred Jan. 5 at about 10:00 p.m. Police identified the victims as 18-year-old E’Lyanha Nevaeh Valenzuela and 20-year-old Mickey Daniel Ortiz. Both were pronounced dead at the scene; their next of kin have been notified. The driver of the Kia was not injured.

According to investigators, an SSR Motorsports dirt bike was traveling eastbound on 22nd Street when a Kia SUV made a left turn from westbound 22nd Street onto southbound Country Club Road. The dirt bike struck the passenger side of the SUV. Police say the two on the dirt bike were not wearing helmets and that the dirt bike was not equipped with a working headlamp.

Traffic Detectives and the Crime Scene Unit responded and are continuing the investigation. Detectives are working to determine the color of the traffic signals at the time of the collision, and it has not yet been confirmed which of the two victims was the rider and which was the passenger.