Toyota Launches Etios Motor Racing Trophy– A One Make Racing Series

• Etios Motor Racing (EMR) Concept Cars unveiled at Auto Expo 2012
• Toyota Racing Development to support the racing series
• 2012 to see a whole lot of motorsport activities by TKM to popularize EMR
• Online applications will be made available from January 15, 2012
• EMR Trophy series of races to start in the second half of 2013

New Delhi, January 06, 2012 – Toyota Kirloskar Motor Pvt. Ltd. (TKM) today unveiled the concept cars of its upcoming Etios Motor Racing Trophy, one make racing series.

Continuing the Company’s global legacy of motorsports, the racing tourney will be supported by one of the most accomplished and acclaimed companies in motorsport history – TRD (Toyota Racing Development), the corporate brand from the Toyota affiliate, Toyota Technocraft Co. Ltd.

This new venture from Toyota  comes close on the heels of the very successful launches of the Etios, Etios  Liva and their diesel versions, all introduced in over a span of a year. The  Etios brand was introduced in the mass segment with a youthful vibe, and the  motorsport venture is an extension of the new image that Toyota is creating in  India. Toyota’s foray into motorsport in the country also comes at a time when  the popularity of the sport is gaining momentum, more so after the resounding  success of the first ever Indian F1 race in October last year.

The EMR Trophy series that  is slated to be held in the second half of 2013 will be based on a one-make  racing championship platform, comprising of 5-6 individual race events, and will  race the Etios Sedan Petrol in the first season. The cars will be FIA qualified  with racing parts supplied by TRD, and their technical expertise will be  utilized throughout the series. Toyota will also partner and work closely with  Indian motorsport experts such as Red Rooster Racing (International) Pvt., Ltd.  based in Bangalore to better understand the needs of the sport and work towards  popularizing it.

The Etios racing platform  will help talented young racers develop their skills, and further train them to  gain a competitive edge for their future in motorsports. They will be mentored  by experts in the field, and will be given an opportunity to compete among the  best in the country. This series will not only highlight the technological  prowess of the manufacturer, but also the endurance levels of the Etios and the  ‘fun to drive’ aspect of the vehicle.

The unveiling of the racing  concept cars is only the beginning of the excitement that the EMR project has  in store during the run up to the series the following year. In its effort to  take motorsports closer to its customers and the youth of the country, the EMR concept  cars will be touring 13 cities and 22 TKM dealerships across the country. Every  weekend for four months, starting the 28th of this month in Chandigarh,  motorsport enthusiasts will be given an opportunity not only to touch and feel  the Etios in its racing avatar but also engage in a plethora of racing activities.

In addition to which, the  TRD powered Etios cars will be featured in mega road shows and exhibition races  planned in the second half of this year for a never before motorsport  experience.

Mr. Hiroji Onishi, President, TMAP-Marketing and Sales who was present at the  event, said: “One of our objectives is to contribute to local motorsports  culture in every country we do business. In the Asia Pacific region, you can  see good examples in countries like Japan  and Thailand where Toyota and Toyota Technocraft  (TRD) are the driving forces behind single-make races for entry-level young  drivers. Today, I am very pleased to see the combination of Toyota and TRD  happening again in India.”

Mr. Sandeep Singh, DMD-Marketing, Toyota Kirloskar  Motor said: “The Etios Motor Racing is a special project to  us, and we are very excited to introduce it to not only motorsport enthusiasts but  also all existing Toyota fans and customers in the country. Capitalizing on our  global motorsport heritage, and with support from experts of the renowned  Toyota Racing Development, we see it as an ideal grass-roots category for young  drivers to learn and make their way up the motorsport ladder. Through our  racing initiatives, we will make motorsports more accessible not only to participants  but spectators as well.”

Driver Selection

• Applications will be open  online www.toyotaetios.in/emr starting January 15, 2012
• Online application will be  closed on February 15, 2012
• Rigorous EMR camps will be  conducted between March and June, 2012 to shortlist the drivers and arrive at  the final driver line-up

The selected applicants will  go through simulator evaluation rounds and go-kart selection rounds to begin  with, and then graduate to driving the Etios Motor Racing cars along with  in-depth lectures as part of the training process. All the training will be  conducted by professional drivers and instructors from Toyota and local racing experts. The study  material will be a combination of what is used in Japan and what is required by FMSCI  to ensure the drivers are trained to international standards.