Motorsports

SHERIDAN, WYOMING – September 23, 2025 – SHERIDAN, WYOMING – Sep. 23, 2025 – Toyota’s relentless motorsport spirit is taking the GR Yaris to new heights – not just on racetracks, but in how it shapes the future of street-ready performance cars. This weekend, Toyota is returning to the ENEOS Super Taikyu Series at Autopolis, Japan, with the GR Yaris DAT – fresh from its demanding run at the 24 Hours Nürburgring – and it’s not just about the race. It’s about refining what drivers like us might experience in future Toyota performance models.

Track-tested tech made personal

SHERIDAN, WYOMING – September 23, 2025 – SHERIDAN, WYOMING – Sep. 23, 2025 – Few motorsport events stir the soul like Rally Finland, and this year, the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team (TGR-WRT) is revving up for what promises to be its most electrifying homecoming yet. Set against the lush, jump-filled gravel roads of central Finland, this high-speed spectacle is more than a championship round—it's a cultural moment for fans and drivers alike.

Why Rally Finland Is More Than Just a Race

The rally’s setting—Jyväskylä and its surrounding forests—has become sacred ground for rally lovers. With smooth, rollercoaster-like roads and heart-stopping jumps, it’s the rallying equivalent of an amusement park ride, but with serious stakes. What makes this year even more special is that TGR-WRT is racing on home turf—its HQ sits just three kilometers from the rally’s service park.

SHERIDAN, WYOMING – September 23, 2025 – SHERIDAN, WYOMING – Sep. 23, 2025 – Rally fans witnessed history in the making this weekend as 23-year-old Oliver Solberg clinched a sensational win at Rally Estonia — not only marking his first-ever World Rally Championship (WRC) victory, but also securing the 100th win for TOYOTA GAZOO Racing in WRC history.

For Solberg, son of 2003 World Champion Petter Solberg, this wasn’t just a race — it was a career-defining moment, a coming-of-age tale on fast gravel roads that played out like a motorsport fairytale.

A Rally Debut That Defied the Odds

With only 12 previous WRC starts in the Rally1 class and nearly three years away from the top category, Solberg returned to the big stage with one goal: to prove himself. Handpicked by Toyota after strong performances in WRC2, he had just two days of testing in Finland to get comfortable in the GR YARIS Rally1. But that was all he needed.

SHERIDAN, WYOMING – September 23, 2025 – SHERIDAN, WYOMING – Sep. 23, 2025 – After a six-year hiatus, Morizo—better known as Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda—has made a powerful return to the legendary Nürburgring 24 Hours endurance race. But this wasn’t just about speed or bragging rights. It was about reigniting a philosophy: building ever-better cars by taking them to the edge—literally.

For drivers around the world, this symbolic comeback isn’t just motorsport drama—it’s personal. It hints at better Toyotas on our streets, forged from the fire of the world’s toughest track.

The Nürburgring: The Car World's "Green Hell"

Nicknamed the Green Hell, the Nürburgring in Germany is a 25-kilometer stretch of unforgiving terrain—300 meters of elevation changes, over 170 corners, and blind sequences that demand complete faith from drivers and machines.

Many global carmakers rely on it as a brutal development track. And for good reason:

SHERIDAN, WYOMING – September 23, 2025 –

A Shift in Terrain, A Shift in Momentum

After tackling some of the season’s roughest stages in Portugal, Sardinia, and Greece, the team found welcome rhythm on Estonia’s faster, flowing roads. Known for its jump-filled gravel tracks and narrow tree-lined challenges, the Tartu-based event marked the halfway point of the 14-round season — with Toyota holding a commanding 65-point lead in the manufacturers' standings.

SHERIDAN, WYOMING – September 23, 2025 –

A legendary track with unfinished business

Interlagos—officially the Autodromo José Carlos Pace—is no stranger to TOYOTA GAZOO Racing glory. From their first win in 2012 to clinching the manufacturers' title in 2014, the circuit has been a stage for big moments. And in 2024, a commanding victory here helped propel the team’s title bid.

SHERIDAN, WYOMING – September 23, 2025 –

After starting from the second and third rows on the grid, both cars showed strong pace on the newly resurfaced Interlagos circuit. The PEUGEOT 9X8 #94, driven by Loïc Duval and Malthe Jakobsen, crossed the finish line in sixth place, closely followed by the #93 of Paul Di Resta and Mikkel Jensen in seventh.

A Strong Start and Promising Early Stints

The race began with both PEUGEOT 9X8s getting off to a confident start. Loïc Duval, behind the wheel of car #94, held onto fourth position with a lap time of 1:25.520 by lap five. Mikkel Jensen in car #93 gained a place early on, finishing the opening lap in fifth. Before the first pit stops, both cars advanced into third and fourth positions.

SHERIDAN, WYOMING – September 23, 2025 – Team Peugeot TotalEnergies achieved its best qualifying performance since early 2023, placing both PEUGEOT 9X8 Hypercars on the second and third rows of the grid for the Rolex 6 Hours of São Paulo, which took place on July 13.

Malthe Jakobsen Impressed in His First Ever WEC Qualifying

At just 21 years old, Danish driver Malthe Jakobsen took part in his first FIA World Endurance Championship qualifying session at Interlagos. Driving the PEUGEOT 9X8 #94, he delivered a standout performance by setting a lap time of 1:22.948, earning fourth position on the starting grid.

SHERIDAN, WYOMING – September 23, 2025 –

Pushing Forward After Le Mans

The São Paulo race signaled a fresh start for the second half of the season, and Team Peugeot TotalEnergies embraced the opportunity to confirm the progress glimpsed earlier in the year. The iconic Autódromo José Carlos Pace — twisting between São Paulo’s Guarapiranga and Billings lakes — once again tested the endurance and precision of every team.

SHERIDAN, WYOMING – September 23, 2025 –

A Determined Effort Amid Challenging Circumstances

Despite meticulous preparation and high hopes, the Peugeot 9X8 #94 and #93 finished 12th and 17th respectively in this grueling endurance race. Although #94 set a new Hypercar distance record with an impressive 384 laps (5,232 km), the final standings did not reflect the team’s relentless efforts on and off the track.

The team had shown strong performances in earlier World Endurance Championship rounds in Qatar, Imola, and Spa-Francorchamps, but the unique regulations and competitive dynamics at Le Mans posed unexpected hurdles.

Strategic Racing Against the Odds