Change seeks to rescue the 'garage' spirit of 2007, when the team competed unofficially at the Nürburgring
In a symbolic move to regain its “garage” spirit, Toyota’s sports division has announced a change of identity. Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) is now officially called just GAZOO Racing. The decision, announced on Wednesday (7), marks a return to the team’s founding principles: using motorsport not only for marketing, but as an essential laboratory to improve road vehicles and cultivate talent.
Under the new banner, GAZOO Racing will focus on pure competition and the evolution of drivers, engineers and mechanics. The brand will maintain its presence in elite categories, such as the World Rally Championship (WRC), and expand its motorsport operations to private customers.
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The name change is a direct reference to the division’s “clandestine” origin. In 2007, Akio Toyoda, then vice president and now chairman of the company, decided to compete in the 24 Hours of Nürburgring. As the activity was not officially recognized by the corporation at the time, the team was prohibited from using the name “Toyota”, signing up as “Team GAZOO”. Toyoda even drove under the pseudonym “Morizo” to avoid internal fanfare.
According to the company, that experience was marked by a feeling of “humiliation” when seeing European rivals testing advanced prototypes while the Japanese team improvised. This foundational trauma became the engine for the philosophy of “making cars better and better” across the track, resulting years later in icons such as the Lexus LFA and, more recently, the GR Yaris and GR Corolla.
The reorganization goes beyond the name. The European structure of the brand, based in Cologne (Germany), will operate under the TOYOTA RACING identity. This division will be exclusively responsible for propulsion technology and advanced development. TOYOTA GAZOO ROOKIE Racing (TGRR) will continue to act as a practical bridge, serving as a training ground.
The unification under the name “Toyota Gazoo Racing” had only taken place in 2015. Now, by removing the “Toyota” from the front line of the tracks, the company is trying to ensure that corporate bureaucracy does not stifle the agility needed in racing. The visual transition of logos on cars and official materials will be gradual, with completion scheduled for January 2027.
