Toyota’s global motorsports arm will soon be known simply as Gazoo Racing, removing the “Toyota” name from its official branding.
The change was announced by Toyota Motor Corporation. Gazoo Racing will continue developing road cars through competition and training drivers, engineers, and mechanics in race conditions. The transition will be completed by January 2027.
Gazoo Racing began in 2007, before it became an official company division. Akio Toyoda, then an executive vice president, entered the Nürburgring 24 Hours endurance race with a small internal team.
Because the effort was not recognized as a formal Toyota program, the team raced under the name Team Gazoo. Toyoda also drove under the name “Morizo,” a pseudonym he continues to use in motorsport events.
Finishing the Nürburgring race did little to ease frustration inside Toyota, as Toyoda later spoke about being passed by rival manufacturers running development cars. Toyota had no active sports car program at the time.
The company also had limited involvement in hands-on performance development. Internal discussions followed around the need to restore in-house engineering capability tied to high-performance vehicles.
Development of the Lexus LFA followed, with work centered on the Nürburgring and Toyota pursuing a full in-house program after years of relying on outside partners. Engineering teams operated under strict production limits and internal constraints.
The LFA reached production in 2010 as Toyota’s first fully internal sports car in roughly two decades. Production volume was capped, and the project proceeded with cautious internal backing. Development continued through completion.
Several years later, Toyota reorganized its motorsports programs. Activities under Toyota Racing, Lexus Racing, and Gazoo Racing were brought together under a single structure. The consolidation placed the Gazoo name within Toyota’s official motorsports operations.
The restructuring coincided with Toyota’s return to the FIA World Rally Championship. Engineers reversed the usual development order. A rally-ready car came first, followed by its adaptation for road use. This process led to the GR Yaris and later the GR Corolla.
Both models marked a return to internal sports car production tied directly to motorsports activity. Racing served as a development platform rather than a promotional exercise.
Toyota returned to the Nürburgring 24 Hours in 2025 after a six-year absence. A GR Yaris represented the company in the endurance race. Toyoda again took part as a driver.
Toyota’s research and development center in Cologne, Germany, will operate under the name Toyota Racing. The unit will focus on motorsports technology and powertrain development used in series such as the World Endurance Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Toyota Gazoo Rookie Racing will continue without changes. The team will remain active as a competition-based training environment for drivers, engineers and mechanics.
With the Toyota name removed, Gazoo Racing will operate without corporate branding. Racing activity continues to guide vehicle development and team training.