The car is forged in the crucible of the road.
That’s what Morizo, the Master Driver, learned at Nürburgring.
As the contest between road and car unfolds around the world, the car is tempered, honed, strengthened.
With the roads on which they race as the stage, our cameras caught the thrilling experience of real speed as drivers vied for supremacy with every move.
As the contest between road and car unfolds around the world, the car is tempered, honed, strengthened.
With the roads on which they race as the stage, our cameras caught the thrilling experience of real speed as drivers vied for supremacy with every move.
DRIVER PROFILES
-
TAKAMOTO KATSUTAWorld Rally Championship (WRC) driver. After participating in the Toyota Gazoo Racing WRC Challenge program in 2015, through steady, incremental effort, Katsuta debuted in the WRC’s top category at WRC Rally Deutschland in 2020. Joining the regular team lineup in 2023, Katsuta played a key part in the team’s capture of the Manufacturer title, taking the podium at Rally Finland with a third-place finish. Since 2024 Katsuta has continued to compete as a regular driver, with the goal of achieving his first WRC victory in 2026. -
KAMUI KOBAYASHIWorld Endurance Championship (WEC) driver. Kobayashi became a full participant in the WEC in 2016, winning his first championship with four victories in the 2019–2020 season. In 2021 Kobayashi won his first 24 Hours of Le Mans crown. Beginning in 2022, he served concurrently as Toyota’s WEC team principal, contributing to the team’s capture of the Manufacturer title.
In 2025, driving car number 7, he achieved his first victory of the season at the final race in Bahrain, and placed second in the Manufacturers championship. -
AKIRA MIURARallyist. After joining Toyota Auto Body Co., Ltd. in 2005, Miura participated in the Dakar Rally as a navigator from 2007. He secured two wins in the Production category before making his debut as a driver in 2016. Miura notched his first victory as a driver in the Production category in 2018, and four more victories followed. Miura is a key contributor to the Team Land Cruiser dynasty that racked up 12 consecutive victories.
In addition to serving as his team’s ace in the Dakar Rally, Miura remains an employee with Toyota Auto Body and is involved in the development of the Land Cruiser series. -
TATSUYA KATAOKARacing driver. After starting his career in kart racing, Kataoka has been active in a wide variety of races over many years, including the Japanese Formula 3 Championship and Super GT. He has also won championships in both the GT500 and GT300 classes.
Today Kataoka competes in the GT300 class and serves as a GR GT3 development driver. Pouring efforts into training the next generation of drivers, Kataoka teaches at TGR-DC Racing School. -
HIROAKI ISHIURARacing driver. Ishiura began his career as a kart racer.
Active for many years in Super Formula and Super GT, he captured the Super Formula Season Champion title in 2015 and 2017. In the 2025 season, Ishiura announced that he was ending his participation in the Super GT GT500 class.
Today Ishiura works as a GR GT development driver. The next stage in his career is eagerly anticipated.
