The TGR Driver Challenge program (TGR-DC) is a driver education program established by TOYOTA GAZOO Racing with the aim of training people to a level where they can compete in top race categories in Japan and internationally. Conducted on and ongoing basis, this program has succeeded in discovering outstanding talents and not only help refine their skills but also support them in stepping up to higher race categories as their techniques advance.

An important core of this program is the “TGR-DC RS: Racing School.” In this program, trainees can get a solid foundation in the skills necessary to compete as riders in FIA-F4 and go on from there to become top drivers. The TGR-DC RS selection trials are open to anyone over the age of 13 who has competed successfully in kart racing, and those selected at this stage as talented drivers will be chosen to participate as “TGR-DC RS driver trainees.”

In 2023, two TGR-DC RS graduates participated in the FIA-F4 championship series. There they raced for one year in an environment where, in addition to technical advice, they received support in physical and mental training.

If such trainees win an FIA-F4 championship or show comparable results, they are given support to advance to participation in the All-Japan Super Formula Lights, SUPER GT or other higher categories. Depending on their performance at these levels, ongoing support will continue to enable them to move up to participation in even higher race categories.

With regard to the TGR-DC curriculum, Tatsuya Kataoka serves as the school’s principle. Kataoka was the first scholarship driver of the Formula Toyota Racing School (FTRS), and for many years he participated in Japan’s top race categories such as SUPER GT (GT500 class), and to the present he remains an active driver participating in SUPER GT races (GT300 class). The school’s instructors are active TGR drivers with an abundance of race experience and achievements who provide detailed instruction based on their real-life experiences and pertinent examples.

Among the drivers that have come up through the TGR-DC program are such representative top Japanese drivers active in SUPER GT and Super Formula as Kamui Kobayashi, Hiroaki Ishiura, Kazuya Oshima, Yuji Kunimoto, Ryo Hirakawa, Kenta Yamashita, among others. What’s more, Kamui Kobayashi and Ryo Hirakawa are competing in World Endurance Championship (WEC) races such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Another graduate of the TGR-DC program is Kazuki Nakajima, whose spectacular career record has included a WEC championship title, three consecutive wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, two Super Formula championship titles, and more, before his retirement as a driver. After which, Nakajima was appointed Vice-chairman of TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Europe in 2022, a position from which he continues to play a leading role in TOYOTA GAZOO Racing.

Achievements by drivers such as these stand as proof of the solid foundation of skills and strength that enable TGR-DC drivers to perform with success in Japan and abroad and acquire positions of excellence.