Ponderings of Morizo | "Nurburgring, Supra, and Morizo's Reflections"

Toyota's New Supra Takes to the Nürburgring Circuit

In a significant turn of events, Akio Morizo, the CEO of Toyota, has been driving the new Supra at the Nürburgring circuit in Germany. This return to the iconic track marks a significant moment for Toyota, as Morizo last drove on the Nürburgring 20 years ago during his initial training.

The Nürburgring circuit, renowned for its challenging terrain and extreme conditions, has always been a crucial testing ground for German vehicle manufacturers. It was here that Morizo was reminded of the importance of being in such extreme situations to create ever-better cars.

Morizo participated in the Nürburgring VLN 4-hour endurance race, an event that saw a setback for the team when a grease leak occurred from the drive shaft of the Supra during the last hour of the race. However, the team, raised by the late Naruse san, worked together to repair the car.

Naruse san, a key figure in Toyota's history, taught Morizo the importance of allowing others to overtake during vehicle development tests at Nürburgring. This lesson is one that Morizo is still following, as he is driving the new Supra while allowing vehicles from behind to overtake without changing speed or route.

A quote from Naruse san before the race at Nürburgring, "Even if you participate in the race, don't 'race'", echoes in the minds of those who knew him. This philosophy is still very much present in the team's attitude towards handling the car.

The content of this event was posted on the company intranet on October 31, 2018. It was also revealed that a new Supra is set to be announced shortly in Detroit. Morizo will make a product announcement or reveal event on January 14, 2019, at 11:40 PM Japan time. This announcement will be streamed online, and it is expected to be a significant moment for Toyota and the automotive industry.

Naruse san believed that Nürburgring is a road no one should avoid, and this is why Morizo was asked to race there. It's been a long time since Morizo drove on the Nürburgring circuit, but his return serves as a reminder of Toyota's founding principles of making ever-better cars. Toyota, in contrast, used a Supra that had already had its production ended for testing at Nürburgring, according to Naruse san.

The team's goal remains the same: to "create ever-better cars." As we look forward to the announcement in Detroit, it's clear that Toyota is committed to continuing to learn from Nürburgring and the lessons of the past to shape the future of automotive engineering.