The Spirit Behind Toyota's Motorsports Activities
• First, let’s talk about Toyota’s motorsports activities, which began in the 1950s. Over the course of time, Toyota has built an extensive background in rising to the top in a number of different racing categories. What is it that drives Toyota to continue its push to the heights in the world’s top motorsports?
”Well, of course, motorsports are inseparably synonymous with the automobile, so I think participation in motorsports is a must for an auto manufacturer. I think this is one of a number of enterprises in which a company has to be involved. Now, does Toyota have to maintain its position at the top of these different categories? That’s another question. There’s always the chance that you get too involved—do too much—and end up not being able to continue. But I think that sticking with it, continuing on for years and decades is the right choice—the best thing to do.”

	Toyota will soon be celebrating its 40th year in motorsports.
	Road to F1

• As an example, look at how Toyota is battling in the F1 series. The way they move steadily from one goal to the next gives one a sense of a very mature approach to the sport. Is this typical of a Toyota endeavor in motorsports?
“Yes, I think you can say that. First, you train the company employees, bring in people with experience, and then eventually you see the results of your work. Those of us involved in racing aren’t really that conscious of this process anymore, as it’s just a natural way that the process works out.”

• Once you start racing, I would think that the will to “win” naturally takes over. But I also get the feeling that it’s not just winning, but making a mark—an impact on the sport over a long span of time—that’s important as well.
“Yes. There’s a sense of wanting to build a base of know-how, technology and experience that we can call our ‘own.’ We don’t really have a position that says we have to stick with only the things we’re good at now.

Toyota Reliability, Forged through Endurance Racing
• Looking back on Toyota’s history in motorsports, it seems that the company has focused mostly on endurance racing. For example, the S800 that Toyota brought to the Goodwood Festival this year comes to mind.
“Yes, I think that’s absolutely correct. What I mean is that Toyota has never made a car specifically for motorsports. In other words, Toyota puts together its production lineup, and then ‘re-purposes’ a production car to use in a motorsport. This means that you may not have a car that’s exactly suited to a particular racing format. For example, the 2000GT is a luxury touring car. There’s no way that car will enter and win a sprint race. What can you do, then? You build a car that can win races based on its durability. A heavy luxury car has no business even thinking about sprint racing, let alone winning a race. Toyota looks at its current lineup, and then selects a model for racing. In the end, this approach lends itself best to involvement in endurance racing.”

• Toyota has challenged the 24 Hours of Le Mans, considered to be the epitome of endurance racing. Toyota entered in 1998 and 1999, making a strong impact on the event and very nearly scoring a victory. Mr. Matsui, how do you personally interpret Toyota’s experience in Le Mans?
”Le Mans was a two-year project for Toyota. From the very beginning, we intended to only race two years. I think we could have won if we had gone a third year, but we stuck with our original plan.”

• I see. From the start, Toyota only intended on being at Le Mans for two years. By its looks, the TS020 that Toyota drove at Le Mans seems to have been a precursor of the F1 cars.
“I think you’re right. The shape of the monocoque had all the looks of a two-passenger F1 monocoque.”