F1 is the world’s premier motorsport. Toyota has kept at a distance since it dropped out in 2009, but on October 11, it announced a technical partnership with the MoneyGram Haas F1 Team.

Present at the press conference was Chairman Akio Toyoda, also known as Morizo. He spoke candidly about his thoughts behind deciding to enter the partnership and his struggles since his decision to withdraw from F1 racing.

During the Q&A session, he was joined by Haas Team Principal Ayao Komatsu. They spoke about how their first impression of each other was “exactly the same,” their shared wishes for the next generation, and other anecdotes in a press conference that was more like a talk show.

We give a full report, including the announcement of granting children the dream of driving “the world’s fastest cars.”

If F1 is the most elite circuit race, then the Eco Car Cup has to be the most proletariat race of all; in other words, it is the easiest race to enter.

The race is not simply about getting the best fuel efficiency. Drivers compete by completing each lap within a designated time while driving the circuit with the best fuel efficiency possible. Speed, mileage, safety, and more are combined in this race to challenge total driving ability.

In this episode, Toyota Times learns of a new FCEV (fuel cell electric vehicle) class and that anyone with a driver’s license can participate. So, we decided to create a team and join the race at Fuji Speedway, which we have covered many times for the program. From the qualifiers to the finals, there were ups and downs before crossing the finish line, ultimately experiencing the true depth of the Eco Car Cup.

Fun to watch and fun to join in. This episode of Toyota Times News is full of what makes motorsports great. Don’t miss it!