Toyota Motor is accelerating the fusion of motor sports and commercial vehicles.President Akio Toyoda throws private property and launched a private racing team.In the endurance race, which competes based on commercial vehicles, he himself participates as a driver, and is responsible for the race world and a bridge to the development of commercial vehicles.At the site of Toyota, the effect began to appear as early as possible.To further develop the motorsport industry and to create better cars, raise the gear of activities one step.
Mid -April.The second round of the Super Endurance Series held in "Sportland SUGO" (Murata -cho, Miyagi Prefecture).There was a figure of "driver Morizo", dressed in a racing suit and looked back on the race with a cheerful smile while gaining some regrets.
The identity is Toyota President Toyoda.As a car lover, he is not just enjoying the race seriously.During the riding, I feel the behavior of the road surface, the braking of the car, and the performance of the turning performance, and I am driving while talking to the car.Regarding the participation in the race, he asserts that "My position is not a racer but a position to evaluate cars."
In May 2020, President Toyoda launched a private team "rookie racing", which he invested in and the owner as a company organization.By participating as a more flat team instead of a car manufacturer called Toyota, the improvement cycle of the race vehicle will be raised.
In addition to utilizing the data and know -how obtained by driving under severe conditions, we want to provide other racing teams to provide "good lace vehicles" that incorporate the results to excite motor sports.I have a thought.According to Toyoda, "I am a Morizou, I am the president of Toyota, and the chairman of the Japan Automobile Industry Association. I can work for everyone in various positions."
Rookie racing is a "Toyota Gazul Racing Rally Challenge" for beginners who use the Super Endurance, Japan's highest peak, Super GT, "All Japan Super Formula Championship", and on public roads sponsored by Toyota.Plan to participate in the war.
GR Yaris, "I'll break this"
"GR Yaris", a small sports car that President Toyoda boarded with super durability.It is a car that triggered the fusion of racing and commercial vehicle development in earnest."Learn from motor sports and make a commercial car."External professional drivers participated in the development, and President Toyoda also gathered the whole power, evaluating the riding comfort and driving performance as a "master driver".In production, we build a dedicated line equivalent to making a supercar that is involved in skilled workers.Since its launch in September 2002, it has been performing well, and its full production continues.
"I'll break this."President Toyoda told the GR Yaris developer in September 2010, immediately after its release.Breaking it refers to running in the race to identify improvements.It is not the end of the completion, but the cycle that improves the car for the next goal is continued in the race.This speed is the biggest difference between the race site and the development of a commercial vehicle.
If a bug is found in the race, it must be resolved the next day.However, commercial vehicles usually take one month at the earliest to improve.For example, in order to take a method for each person in charge, such as the engine and chassis, once take home to take home to take home.
GR Yaris stops making such a hierarchical decision and decides things at the discretion of the site.It was also possible to see the driving data visible.Until now, the sensitivity was emphasized, and even if there was a problem, it was not known where the cause was, and each person in charge had watered theory.
However, now, the timing of the brakes and the status of the steering wheel are recorded in milliseconds.The condition change of the car can be seen by numbers, and the defect can be identified in detail.
The data obtained in the race driving is a mass of know -how."Initially, there were some parts that I couldn't see the detailed data because a racing engineer could not see it," said Masahiro Sasaki, a professional driver belonging to the rookie racing, who was also involved in the development of GR Yaris.However, he says, "Now you can see everything and cooperate well.
In the past, the idea of "racing is a race, commercial vehicles are commercial vehicles" in Toyota.However, "By using the car to the limit, you can see the world you could not see until now" (person in charge).The rookie racing has the addition of Toyota engineers, and the movement to fuse racing methods and commercial vehicle development is increasing.President Toyoda aims to expand the development model in a short period of time performed in GR Yaris to other models.
Next is a hydrogen fuel engine
We also start a challenge for motorsports in the carbon neutral era.It is a practical use of a hydrogen engine that drives the engine as a fuel.
Outsourcing a hydrogen engine developed by Toyota to rookie racing.In the 24 -hour race in the 3rd round of Super Endurance, which will be held on May 21-23 in Fuji Speedway (Oyama Town, Shizuoka Prefecture), will be installed on the flagship brand "Corolla Sports" and will run for the first time.President Toyoda says, "I want to make motorsports sustainability even if environmental issues come out."
The project started in the end of 20 years.President Toyoda test drive to a car with a hydrogen engine brought in by the development team and said, "What if I went to the race?"Koji Sato, an executive officer who manages the motor sports division in Toyota, laughs, "I brought it in."
Based on the GR Yaris engine, the system and technology of the fuel cell vehicle "MIRAI" are applied.In the early stage of development, President Toyoda reveals, "Is it honest to say at this time?"However, Sato declares that "it must be done on an early -time axis to put it in practical use. In a short development cycle, the difficult technology of hydrogen will be" inner "."This hydrogen engine is "thoroughly destroyed" and approaches the realization.
（取材・政年佐貴恵）Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun May 4, 2021