Discourse from Morizo | Shimoyama Test Track

Toyota has recently opened the Toyota Technical Center Shimoyama, which features a new test course named the "Third Circuit." This course, located in Shimoyama, Japan, is designed to recreate a mountain path in the countryside and offers a unique challenge for Toyota's test drivers.

The Third Circuit at Shimoyama has a total length of 5.3 km and an elevation difference of 75 meters, making it approximately a quarter of Nürburgring in both length and elevation. This design was inspired by Morizo, who drew great inspiration from the "Landstraße" in Austria, a famous road known for its challenging terrain.

The Third Circuit is built with a dual purpose: to train cars and to break them. Test drivers at Shimoyama will make cars go through a process of "drive and fix, drive and fix." This approach is intended to gather valuable data that will be used to create cars that offer more safety and are enjoyable to drive.

Although only a small portion of the center has been completed, the goal at Shimoyama is clear: to collect data for vehicle development. The primary purpose of Toyota Technical Center Shimoyama is to leverage the challenging terrain of the Third Circuit to push Toyota's vehicles to their limits, uncovering hidden issues and improving overall performance.

Interestingly, Nürburgring, known for bringing out problems in cars that have been tested many times in Japan, has played a role in the development of the Third Circuit. Test drivers involved in the completion of the Third Circuit have utilized their Nürburgring know-how to ensure that the course presents a true challenge for Toyota's vehicles.

Toyota has been cautious about inviting guests to the test course, deliberately blurring out the scene during a televised program featuring Matsuko Deluxe. From June 2019, Shimoyama will be the workplace of Toyota's test drivers, where they will continue to push the boundaries of vehicle development and create safer, more enjoyable cars for drivers around the world.