Last week, Toyota announced that Toyota Gazoo Racing will in future operate under the name Gazoo Racing, meaning the Toyota brand will be dropped from the title. The statement added that Gazoo Racing will continue to compete in series including the World Rally Championship.
Until now, Toyota’s WRC team has competed under the name Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT. The same name also appears on the entry list for the 2026 season-opening Rally Monte Carlo.
This sparked confusion over whether the team’s official name for the 2026 season will be Toyota Gazoo Racing or simply Gazoo Racing.
Toyoda was asked about the matter at the Tokyo Auto Salon event held over the weekend. He paused briefly before answering and glanced at a large screen behind the stage displaying the names of Toyota’s teams competing across different series.
“We haven’t decided yet, but the Toyota name will be included,” Toyoda eventually replied, drawing applause from the audience.
“It’s my own feeling. Please don’t start explaining things too logically about why this or why that,” he added.
As things stand, Toyota’s WRC team name is expected to change to Gazoo Racing for the 2027 season.
Toyota’s motorsport division will use two different names going forward. In the World Endurance Championship and NASCAR, the Japanese manufacturer’s teams already compete this year under the name Toyota Racing.
Source: Rallyplus.net
