Toyota's incoming president to race Lexus

Toyota Motor Corp. said incoming president Akio Toyoda, the grandson of the company's founder, will be a driver on the automaker's team in a 24-hour endurance race in Germany.

Toyoda, 52, was tapped as president in January - an appointment viewed as symbolic of the Japanese automaker's determination to ride out the global slump and what is expected to be its first annual loss in nearly 60 years.

The grandson of Toyota ( TM - news - people ) founder Kiichiro Toyoda is one of four drivers on a Toyota team entering the May 21-24 Nurburgring 24-hour endurance race in Germany, company spokesman Paul Nolasco said Friday.
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Joe_Limon - 4/25/2009 12:37:06 AM

+4 Boost

Hopefully under Toyoda's guidance, Toyota will grow some balls and start making sports cars again.

Joe_Limon - 4/25/2009 1:13:36 AM

+5 Boost

New president = New direction. I thought toyota dropped the sports cars because they wanted to sell cars based purely off of reliability numbers.

dlin - 4/25/2009 2:31:47 AM

+2 Boost

Agree. Where's the next Supra!?

JUGNU - 4/25/2009 12:58:19 PM

+4 Boost

Good to hear. On other Motorsport news Toyota scored their maiden 1-2 Qualifying positions in Formula 1 today. They have good chance of scoring their maiden win. Good Luck.

JUGNU

lexworld - 4/25/2009 1:00:38 PM

-1 Boost

Badgewhore you may have a point to some degree but, the big boys know you have to have a halo car( supercar,capable of 200mph or more)to make history and be respected among the likes of Ferr,Lamb,Pors,Merc,Corv just to mention a few that will do 200mph or more. Akio Toyoda is a very serious car enthusiast and will be one of the five drivers racing the LF-A in the upcoming 24-hour Nurburgring endurance race. So, there you have it. Toyota is making a bold statement and somebody had better listen up.

WorldofLuxury - 4/25/2009 1:08:47 PM

-1 Boost

I love this guy, and I can't wait till the LFA comes out!!! :D

DinamoR - 4/25/2009 1:30:10 PM

-1 Boost

Toyota has a great chance to win in Formula 1 this weekend! Both Toyota F1 cars are 1-2 on the grid at the start. They better not blow this chance.

sector - 4/25/2009 9:19:13 PM

-1 Boost

LF-A here we come! I'll be saving up!

Roboto - 4/26/2009 2:24:48 PM

-1 Boost

cool!! my new president is gona race the german doucheMobiles!
Go Lexus!!