What is in Toyota’s 2020 motorsport diary?

Toyota has finally been able to reveal the extent and dates of its participation in world motorsport during the remainder of 2020.

As you will see below, the diary is bursting with activities that encompass everything from high-profile world championships to grassroots series that nurture future talent.

The first few months of the Twenties has already proved to be eventful, with the Toyota Hilux again confirming its position as the best four-wheel drive competitor in the Dakar Rally, while the Toyota Yaris began its WRC campaign with an all-new driver line-up and a double podium result in the Rallye Monte-Carlo.

But what motorsport events are in the diary for the remainder of 2020? Scroll down to find out.

World Rally Championship

Toyota believes that participation in the WRC, the pinnacle of rally racing, is an ideal proving ground for making ever-better cars. So the Finland-based Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team continues its campaign in the Yaris WRC in 2020 – a year that will see the series return to Japan for the first time in ten years.

Having achieved the goal of winning the manufacturers’ title in 2018, Toyota’s aim for this fourth year of competition is bold: to win the manufacturers’, drivers’ and co-drivers’ titles.

Now in its fifth year, the Toyota Gazoo Racing WRC Challenge Program runs alongside the official WRC series with the aim of nurturing young rally drivers into a position where they are capable of competing at the highest level. For 2020, Takamoto Katsuta takes the wheel of the Yaris WRC and compete in a total of eight rounds – seven in Europe and his home rally in Japan.

World Endurance Championship

The 2019-2020 season is the last for the electrifying TS050 Hybrid. Toyota hopes to conclude on a high with a third successive victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Interestingly, the 2020-2021 season begins immediately afterwards, in which Toyota will participate in the new Le Mans Hypercar class using two race cars based on the GR Super Sport that is currently under development.

Now in its second year, the Toyota Gazoo Racing WEC Challenge Program runs alongside the official WEC series with the aim of nuturing young racing drivers into a position where they are capable of competing at the highest level. For 2020, Kenta Yamashita is participating in the LMP2 class as of the High Class Racing team.

Super GT

This season sees the Toyota Supra return to Super GT’s top-level GT500 class for the first time in 15 years.

New class regulations have required changes in engine output, aerodynamics and suspension performance, while the inclusion of two talented new drivers (Sacha Fenestraz and Ritomo Miyata) promoted from the All Japan F3 championship and GT300 class should add an extra layer of youth and excitement to the series.

Additional motorsport initiatives

Hosted by Toyota Gazoo Racing, the Five Continents Drive project began in 2014 with the aim of evaluating how Toyota vehicles cope in the sort of real-world conditions faced by customers in all corners of the globe. In this concluding year, the Asia leg continues with the team traversing China and East Asia before arriving in Japan for the final goal.

Japan-only series for 2020 include the Super Taikyu touring car series, which will see the new GR Yaris (below) and GR Supra compete in the privateer-run Rookie Racing team.

The one-make 86 Race is now in its eighth year, with the closely fought, eight-round series continuing to be divided into Professional and Clubman categories. Similarly, the one-make Netz Cup is a series open to Toyota Yaris drivers holding a Class A licence. Now in its 21st year, the competition plays host to a total of 17 rounds across five series.

Learn more: Why does Toyota compete in motorsport?