Latest news with #RalfSchumacher
Auto Express
22-07-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Express
What is a Gazoo? And how does it make today's fast Toyotas special
Gazoo might sound as if it comes straight from the Black Lace songbook, but in fact it's Toyota's performance brand, which has gone from zero to hero in just under a decade, securing wins on both road and track. What is it, though, what makes it special, and why does it have such a strange-sounding name? To find out, we got behind the wheel of arguably Gazoo's finest creation, the GR Yaris, and headed to the firm's headquarters in Cologne, Germany, for an exclusive tour of its development facilities and historic racing museum. Producing cars for both keen drivers and the upper echelons of motorsport, Gazoo Racing is Toyota's motorsport division. However, those familiar with the manufacturer's history will know that it's not the only one, nor is it the first. Advertisement - Article continues below GR was founded in 2007, and Toyota's previous racing and road car achievements can be attributed to both Toyota Motorsport GmbH (TMG) and Toyota Racing Development (TRD) respectively, both formed years earlier. With Toyota having already secured victories in rallying through the Celica and Corolla, plus strong finishes in sportscar racing (including Le Mans) with the GT-One, Gazoo Racing arrived at a time when TMG was struggling with its entry into Formula One; Toyota was bleeding cash and off the leading pace, despite having drivers of the calibre of Ralf Schumacher and Timo Glock. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below GR was originally devised as a means to train up junior mechanics, with the goal of entering the Nürburgring 24 Hours race, and Toyota's so-called Master Driver, Hiromu Naruse, was called in to supervise. The concept of a Master Driver might seem a bit cheesy, but it's something Toyota takes very seriously, with the person bearing this title getting final say on the driving dynamics of the firm's cars. We sat down with GR's current Vice chairman, and three-time Le Mans winner, Kazuki Nakajima, who told us, 'Having a Master Driver is what makes Gazoo Racing really stand out.' Today, Toyota's Master Driver is Akio Toyoda, the grandson of the company's founder and sitting president. But it was only through intense training under Naruse that Toyoda was able to gain this title and take on his racing pseudonym, Morizo. Advertisement - Article continues below Nakajima famously told his corporate bosses, 'Somebody in [his] position, who doesn't know the first thing about driving, shouldn't make passing comments about cars. The least [he] can do is learn how to drive.' While such a comment in any other scenario would have resulted in the test driver being fired, the Japanese hold the utmost respect for racing drivers and their skills. This being the case, Naruse instead took Toyoda under his wing, setting him on a path of transformation. This would take him from what some might perceive as a company executive who'd gained his status thanks to his family connections, to the next 'Master Driver', and stepping into the racing seat himself. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below 'What's important for GR is that we always have our Master Driver,' Nakajima said. 'We can clearly say that [Morizo] is a true car lover. I mean the passion he has for driving, as well as his capability to feel the car properly, is real.' Gazoo Racing got its name from a website Toyota was operating at the time; was set up in the mid-2000s to sell second-hand Toyotas using photographs posted online. The name Gazoo itself is derived from the Japanese word for 'picture', and given that the name 'Toyota Racing' was already taken, Naruse and Morizo went with GR instead. Advertisement - Article continues below While GR's first racing entry in the 2007 Nürburgring 24 Hours was unexceptional – Team Gazoo finished a mediocre 104th – it still sparked the idea that racing could be an invaluable tool for developing road cars. With this in mind, Gazoo returned to the Nürburgring the following year with a mysterious development car, which bore the designation LFA. Yes, that's right; Gazoo Racing was very much involved with the development of what has become one of the most beloved modern supercars: the shrieking V10-powered Lexus LFA. Following this, Gazoo also raced pre-production versions of the Toyota GT86 – another lauded future classic – and continues to compete in the Nürburgring 24 Hours to this day. Nakajima told us that the philosophy of racing closely mirrors that of the GR development team, explaining that 'The cycle of 'Push the limit, break the car, fix the car', which we use in motorsport, is exactly the same as what's used on the road car side. Because of this endless effort, our product is getting better and better, and it's nice to see that customers feel that and share our excitement.' Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below However, disaster struck in 2010 when Naruse was testing the hardcore Nürburgring Edition of the LFA and suffered a fatal crash. Morizo reflected on the early days of Gazoo with Naruse, saying, 'Back then, I was overcome by various disappointments: the disappointment of not receiving any support; the disappointment of not being taken seriously, no matter what we did; [and] the disappointment of being belittled, no matter what we did.' Advertisement - Article continues below Morizo said that such disappointments are the reason why he champions the phrase 'let us make ever-better cars', and the team at GR appeared to take this rather literally, spending the next few years tinkering around and developing a hardcore version of the GT86. With Morizo designating Gazoo Racing as Toyota's official performance arm in 2015, the Japan-only, limited-edition GT86 GRMN (Gazoo Racing, Meisters of the Nürburgring) took learnings from Gazoo's time endurance racing with the GT86. It boasted more power than the regular car, along with a custom crankshaft, upgraded suspension, bucket seats and a fairly lairy aero kit. However, it wasn't the first car to wear the GRMN designation; that was, would you believe, a souped-up version of the iQ city car. Like the GT86, this was limited to 100 models and was only sold in Japan; unlike the GT86, however, a second version was sold later, packing a supercharger and more punch. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below The UK's first experience of Gazoo was the Yaris GRMN, which was limited to just 600 units worldwide and like other models from Toyota's performance arm, got a heavily revised chassis compared with the standard model. Putting out a healthy 209bhp from its fruity-sounding 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine, the GRMN was a tantalising taster of what hot hatch buyers could expect from GR in just a few years. Before then, however, Gazoo needed to make the jump from building limited-run specials to series-production performance models. That time came in 2018, with the GR Supra – the fifth generation of the long-running sports car and successor to the legendary A80 Supra. Advertisement - Article continues below Created in collaboration with BMW, the Toyota GR Supra was designed to be more focused than the soft-top Z4 with which it shared many of its parts – including the 3.0-litre straight-six petrol engine. Like a thoroughbred, the GR Supra has been developed to be as darty and frisky as possible, with a chassis that, according to Toyota, is more than two times stiffer than even the carbon-fibre tub used by the LFA. Around the time of the Supra's launch, Gazoo Racing was also making history because, after re-entering the World Endurance Championship (WEC) in 2012, the team won Le Mans in 2018. The winning car was piloted by Nakajima himself, with F1 legend Fernando Alonso, and F1 racer and future Formula E champion Sebastian Buemi. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below From here on, GR's racing success only grew, with two more consecutive Le Mans wins at the hands of Nakajima and team, as well as a win in the World Rally Championship (WRC) in 2018 with a rally-tuned version of the Yaris. However, with WRC regulations about to change in 2020 and Toyota feeling a three-door bodystyle would suit its racing efforts the best, the team at Gazoo Racing was set to work to build a full-on homologation special version of the Yaris, similar to the likes of the Audi Sport Quattro and Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 decades before. Advertisement - Article continues below The result was the Toyota GR Yaris: one of the greatest modern hot hatches, or performance cars in general, for that matter. Yet despite an impressive 261bhp output (280bhp in updated models), benefitting from four-wheel drive and reaching 62mph in similar time to an Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio, none of this is what's most impressive about the hot Yaris. You see, the GR Yaris shares only its lights, mirrors, and antenna with the standard car. Its roof is made of carbon fibre and the entire car sits roughly 6cm wider than the regular hybrid courtesy of aggressively flared wheelarches. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below Bearing this in mind, Nakajima explained how the Yaris specifically, as well as the GR brand as a whole, 'is symbolic because it [represents] a change of culture at Toyota, focusing less on the volume and cost-competitiveness of a car and more on making the best car possible.' If you've never driven a GR Yaris, it's important to try and convey how tactile an experience it is, and we certainly don't mean that in a sense of the car being draped in plush, sumptuous materials – something which it most definitely isn't. The gearbox, for example, is superbly rewarding to operate, with the gearstick perfectly positioned, a short-yet-satisfying throw and emitting the sort of deep 'clunk' whenever you shift that would feel right at home in one of those ASMR videos you see and hear online. Advertisement - Article continues below Plus, despite its four-wheel drive system being electronically controlled – drivers can select Normal or Track settings to adjust the torque distribution – the sensation of the car shifting its power around in order to maintain maximum grip is palpable, with the Yaris' rallying pedigree most evident when you're pushing on through the tight, twisting roads of places like the Peak District, where we've explored the GR's abilities. It's no surprise, then, that the GR Yaris and its rallying success – three World Championships since 2022 – has turbocharged support for the Gazoo Racing brand; the hot Yaris, for example, has been notoriously hard for buyers to secure an allocation for, while the GR86 (the successor to the aforementioned GT86) made the ticket sales for the Oasis reunion tour seem slow, selling out in just 90 minutes. Toyota knows this, though, and is beginning to lean heavily on the Gazoo brand with the launch of GR Sport trim levels across the company's line-up, bringing sportier styling and often mild chassis upgrades to more mainstream models. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below But those whose appetites won't be whetted by a somewhat sporty trim level now that production of the GR Yaris and GR86 has ended, should fear not; Auto Express recently revealed that the previously US-only GR Corolla will soon be available to UK buyers, with the car being built in Burnaston, Derbyshire, from next year. Advertisement - Article continues below In the longer term, however, the team at GR is looking at sustainability as part of Toyota's 'Multi-Path Solution' approach. 'There are a lot of interesting projects going on with which we can transfer our technology to [series] production,' Nakajima said. 'For example, with powertrain engineers working on our H2 hydrogen [WEC] racing concept, this naturally creates conversations of how to bring this sort of technology to the road.' Almost certain to have the GR badge when it reaches production, the FT-Se will be an electric sports car. Toyota has also hinted at a revival of the Celica and MR2 nameplates in the future.'For years, electric power [for Toyota] has been used for fuel economy, in both hybrids and EVs; as a driver, I think there's a lot more to come, and a lot to play with to create some excitement,' Nakajima hinted. Ultimately, GR's rise to the top has been nothing short of incredible, especially given the short time in which it has been achieved. Toyota's performance arm has managed to churn out future classics at such a speed that it makes the firm's renowned factory Production System look inefficient in comparison. Akio Toyoda is often quoted for his analogy of a tree, saying that 'when unusually rapid growth causes the rings to grow abnormally thick, the trunk weakens and is easily broken'. And while this is certainly the case for most firms, the evident passion and expertise at Gazoo Racing are likely to mean it'll be as solid as an oak for years to come. Did you know you can sell your car with Auto Express? Get the highest bid from our network of over 5,500 dealers and we'll do the rest. Click here to try Auto Express Sell My Car now ... 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Daily Mail
11-07-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Max Verstappen and Toto Wolff are holding 'SECRET TALKS in Sardinia' over Mercedes move, claims Ralf Schumacher
Ralf Schumacher has suggested that Max Verstappen and Toto Wolff are holding secret talks in Sardinia as speculation mounts over the Red Bull driver's future. The four-time world champion is contracted to Red Bull until 2028 but has been the subject of interest by Mercedes. If the Dutchman were to complete a switch it would create an explosive partnership with George Russell. But Mercedes may have been handed a blow in their pursuit with the sacking of Christian Horner on Wednesday, with some suggesting the 27-year-old could now stay put. While Verstappen has enjoyed a solid relationship with the former Red Bull principal, his father Jos Verstappen publicly called for his departure after a heated feud last year. And although Horner has overseen eight Red Bull drivers' championship victories, the team have struggled this year, with Verstappen 69 points behind leader Oscar Piastri. Verstappen's 8X jet just touched ground! 🛬Sardinia, Italy 🇮🇹 🦁 #UnleashTheLion — Max Verstappen's Jet 🛩 (@VerstappenJet) July 11, 2025 And Ralf Schumacher has suggested that Verstappen is still set to leave Red Bull at the end of the season. Schumacher claims Verstappen will announce his decision 'during the summer break' and that secretive talks between Mercedes principal Wolff and Verstappen are being held in Sardinia. 'It's no coincidence that two boats are sailing off Sardinia this week,' he told the YouTube channel. 'One belongs to Toto Wolff, and the other to Max Verstappen. I could imagine them having a coffee together sometime.' Following Schumacher's comments, Verstappen private jet was reportedly tracked to the Italian island. Mercedes principal Wolff refused to rule out a move ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix last month. 'I can imagine every line-up,' he said. 'I had Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton fighting for a world championship, so everything afterwards is easy.' He added: 'As a team principal responsible for the best car brand in the world it is clear you're exploring what a four-time world champion is going to do in the future. 'What we are trying to do in the team is be transparent. You can choose to hold things under wraps, or do what we've done in the last 20 years I've been here is putting it out there and saying this is the situation. 'These drivers are clever people and they talk to each other. I'm saying it how it is and there's no such thing as saying we are going to sign Max, because it's so far away that it's not realistic at that stage. So with George, we talk about everything.' Verstappen has tried to play down speculation.
The Sun
09-07-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
‘Difficult' Christian Horner had heated row with Verstappen's dad at Silverstone before sacking, claims Ralf Schumacher
CHRISTIAN HORNER was involved in a "heated exchange" with Jos Verstappen at the British Grand Prix before he was sacked, according to sensational claims. Horner, 51, has been axed as team principal of Red Bull Racing's Formula One team after 20 years in the role. 4 4 4 Cracks had been starting to appear in the team's foundations since the start of last season as a behind the scenes power struggle erupted. Horner and Jos Verstappen - former F1 racer and father of star driver Max Verstappen - have butted heads multiple times. Last season, at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, the pair were seen arguing in the paddock despite the team going on to take victory. There has been little indication of them kissing and making up, with 53-year-old Verstappen Sr saying he was "completely finished" with Horner in August. And the tension apparently spilt over into another heated exchange at Silverstone at the weekend. Ralf Schumacher has claimed he was witness to a Horner and Verstappen "argument" during the weekend with the team's press officer also involved. Speaking to the Boxengasse-podcast, he said: "There was another argument or a heated exchange, at least visually and verbally between Jos Verstappen, Christian Horner and the press officer. "You could see that Jos was anything but happy with the situation." SunSport has attempted to contact Red Bull and Christian Horner for comment. Schumacher, 50, added: "But I understand it too. For me, Christian Horner is also a bit of a difficult person. Watch moment Christian Horner & Max Verstappen's dad Jos have 'heated' exchange as team 'torn apart' by sext row "I have to say that. He just failed to keep the team together well, which is not always easy, of course. "But I also think his behaviour now, I can only refer to myself, but he can't really deal with criticism." Schumacher also said Horner refuses to speak to the German branch of Sky Sports. He said: "We are, or I am, now, on a so-called black list, so he no longer talks to us or with me and such. "It's actually a joke, because a man who has won so much should actually be able to discuss it in front of the camera,' The decision to sack Horner comes a year and a half after the 'sexting scandal' that engulfed him over texts he apparently sent to a female employee. Despite keeping his job in the aftermath of the chaos, Red Bull have slumped down both the Drivers' and Constructors' standings, with Verstappen reportedly eyeing a move to huge rivals Mercedes. The Dutch driver, 27, struck gold with pole position on Saturday before he suffered a disastrous spin during a safety car restart in Sunday's chaotic race. Lando Norris took the chequered flag of his home race for the first time ahead of disgruntled McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri, who had fumed about a ten-second time penalty he received after he stopped under the safety car. But the achievement was arguably trumped by Sauber's Nico Hulkenberg scoring his first ever F1 podium after 239 races - and his team's first since 2012. Laurent Mekies has been appointed as the new CEO of Red Bull Racing, stepping up from the Racing Bulls team, following Horner's departure. The next F1 race will commence on July 27 with the Belgian Grand Prix. Verstappen sits third in the drivers' championship, scoring 165 of Red Bull's total tally of 172, which sees them currently in fourth place in the Constructors' Championship. 4
Daily Mail
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Conor Benn has excruciatingly awkward British GP interview with Sky Germany presenter - who had no idea who the boxer was!
The grid walk at Formula One races can serve up hilarious and awkward moments in equal measure and it was the latter for Conor Benn at Silverstone this weekend. Benn, who recently had his rematch with Chris Eubank Jr confirmed, was among the celebrities drifting around the track pre-race on Sunday. Sky Germany were on hand, collaring various people to chat briefly, but presenter Peter Hardenacke had no idea who Benn was. After speaking to actor Tom Holland, the presenting duo of Hardenacke and Ralf Schumacher, brother of Michael and former driver himself, turn to Benn. Benn's manager had tugged Hardenacke's jacket to draw attention to the fighter. 'He began the conversation in English – and apologised live on TV: 'Sorry, I don't know you. I'm really sorry. Please introduce yourself. Even though some of our viewers probably know you. Benn doesn't say his name, instead replying: 'I'm just here to enjoy Formula 1. It's a great experience.' Hardenacke then asks: 'Who are you rooting for? Benn replied: 'Lewis and George.' 'Okay. Let's see what happens. Excuse the question—but what's your name?' asked the presenter. 'Conor Benn', the boxer finally exclaimed. Hardenacke took his blunder in his stride, saying: 'Conor Benn – I learned something again. Some people will probably blame me for it... Meanwhile, Ralf has coHempletely disappeared. He later told BILD: 'Suddenly, he stood in front of me, full of anticipation, and his manager asked me if I wanted to interview him. So I couldn't get out of it. 'Normally, my cameraman, Tobi, always tells me who's standing in front of me. He knows all the stars. But nothing came of that. 'So, I tried to figure out who it was myself during the conversation. Still, the motto: dare to take a risk and don't take yourself too seriously. The German publication say there was a friendly handshake between the two later. Benn shot to newfound levels of fame back in April when he fought Eubank Jr in a brutal, brilliant familial grudge match. He ended up losing a unanimous decision but the rematch is now set for September 20 - perhaps even Hardenacke will tune in.
News.com.au
24-06-2025
- Automotive
- News.com.au
‘Internally decided': Big call on Piastri at McLaren as Ricciardo record looms
Former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher believes an internal decision has been made at McLaren to back Oscar Piastri for the drivers championship. After 10 races this season, Piastri has a 22-point lead in the standings over teammate Lando Norris, with Max Verstappen 43 points behind the Australian. Fox Sports, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every practice, qualifying session and race in the 2025 FIA Formula One World Championship™ LIVE in 4K. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer. McLaren have said they will let their two drivers race each other, and there are still 14 races remaining this year and plenty of opportunities for Norris to mount a comeback and add to his two victories this season. But Piastri is showing a champion mentality every race weekend and according to Schumacher, it's enough for McLaren to back Piastri as their main man this year. The teammates came together in wheel to wheel action for the first time at the Canadian Grand Prix, with Norris crashing out after going for a gap along the pit straight that wasn't there. 'I believe that it is now internally decided that Piastri is the man the team will focus on in terms of the World Championship,' the six-time race winner told Sky Deutschland. 'Lando shows too many weaknesses and makes too many mistakes, including his senseless driving into the back of Oscar in Canada.' 'He has apologised and that shows what a great person he is. But it's no use, because great people rarely win titles.' He went on to say: 'This is the low point now because he has lost his nerve a bit. 'You have to give him one thing, he was once again faster than Piastri. He didn't manage to do it in qualifying, but in the race he closed the gap and was simply better. He still has the speed, especially in the race. Seven-time F1 race winner Juan Pablo Montoya agrees that Piastri has quietly assumed top dog status at McLaren. Speaking to Casino Hawks, Montoya said: 'I think he (Norris) is very good at winning. I think he's very good at dominating. But chasing and being in uncomfortable situations, it seems like he never learned to deal with them because he never experienced enough of them. 'So now he's finding himself in difficult situations that maybe he doesn't have enough experience to deal with. That's the only explanation for me. F1 star's wife flashes flesh, popstar sizzles 'Losing points on Sunday to Oscar wasn't the end of the world. Having an opportunity to pass Oscar was good, but you need to put yourself in situations where you're going to come out ahead. You never want to go into a fight without an exit strategy.' Piastri has already earned the nickname 'Ice Boy' and comparisons to 2007 world champion Kimi Raikkonen, who was known as the 'Ice Man' for his cool demeanour on and off track. Piastri has been as unflustered as they come so far in his career, but the pressure may start to ramp up in the second half of the year as a maiden championship comes within reach. 'Oscar has that calmness,' Montoya said. 'But if it becomes a thing where it's all about the speed and Lando can put it together, I think Lando can still come out on top. There are still enough races that if Lando gets in a streak and wins four or five races in a row, everything is flipped. 'If you can go and beat Oscar two or three weekends in a row, all of a sudden, Oscar is the one under pressure. 'Oscar hasn't been in a bad situation. At the start of the season, Oscar was not the favourite, and Oscar was not the guy everybody was looking at. 'And Oscar is not the English guy that all the media are paying attention to. He's like the underdog — even in the team, he was like the underdog, so now everybody is looking at Oscar today like he's maybe the man. 'How is he going to manage that? He's never been in that situation. What is he going to do about it? How is he going to cope? 'People are going to start paying attention to him and scrutinising his mistakes. Maybe this will take some pressure off Lando, and it might flip Lando around and give Lando amazing results.' Piastri is aiming to become just the third Aussie to win a F1 drivers championship and the first since Alan Jones back in 1980. Jones has backed Piastri to break the 45-year drought, saying earlier this year he believes Norris is 'mentally weak'. Piastri, 24, caught up with Daniel Ricciardo, Aussie Olympic snowboarder Scotty James and Mercedes driver George Russell for a game of padel in Monaco. In just his third F1 season, Piastri has seven race wins and can equal Ricciardo's career haul of eight victories if he salutes this weekend in Austria, which is a home race for Red Bull. The F1 season continues at the Austrian Grand Prix this weekend, with the main race on Sunday at 11pm AEST.
