Toyota Gazoo Racing North America Expands Motorsports Footprint to NHRA
Toyota NHRA, IMSA and SRO GT4 and Formula DRIFT series drivers will compete under the Toyota Gazoo Racing North America (TGRNA) banner beginning with the 2022 racing season, the automaker announced. TGRNA will serve as the North American arm for Toyota’s global motorsports division, Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR).
“The opportunity to introduce TGR North America to the NHRA community in 2022 and continue the support in Formula DRIFT and GT4 competition is a big moment for everyone involved in Toyota’s overall motorsports program,” said Paul Doleshal, group manager, Motorsports and Assets for Toyota Motor North America. “The ability to showcase the GR family of vehicles on the racetrack and ultimately be a part of applying racing performance to production vehicles is something that we all strive for through motorsports. Showcasing the capability of our race enthusiast engineers to our new and existing fan base of enthusiasts is the overarching goal of the program.”
TGRNA will focus on providing U.S. customers with performance sports cars, built by enthusiasts, for enthusiasts, and look to deliver excitement to fans of both cars and motorsports, the company said.
For NHRA drivers competing in the Funny Car class, they will debut the new GR Supra body at the season kickoff event in Pomona, California. Those drivers competing in the Top Fuel category will also carry TGRNA colors for all 22 NHRA national events.
Toyota’s Formula DRIFT drivers will compete in the GR Supra along with the GR86 for the 2022 season while the GT4 drivers in IMSA and SRO will also field the GR Supra GT4.
The NHRA season begins on February 20 at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, California. Formula DRIFT will kick off their season in Long Beach, California, on April 2, and the GT4 will take to the track for the IMSA schedule at Daytona International Speedway on January 29 and in SRO competition on February 25 in St. Petersburg, Florida.
