Toyota City, Japan, January 30, 2015―Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) today announces its Toyota Racing, Lexus Racing and GAZOO Racing motorsports activities for 2015.

Toyota also announces that it will return to the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) in 2017, to compete in the series for the first time since 1999. The rally vehicle will be based on the "Yaris" hatchback and will be developed and tested by Toyota Motorsport GmbH (TMG).

Toyota views motorsports as an ideal medium for conveying the anticipation and excitement that driving can produce, and will strive to expand the reach of motorsports to attract a wide range of car enthusiasts.

Toyota hopes to use these activities to hone its people, automobiles and technologies, and use the experience and expertise gained to develop ever-better cars.

Toyota Racing will continue to race in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) and play a supporting role for teams competing in U.S. NASCAR, Japanese Super Formula and the Dakar Rally.

Lexus Racing will compete in Japan's top-level Super GT and provide the Lexus "RC F GT3" globally for use in grass-roots motorsports.

This year GAZOO Racing will again take part in the Nürburgring 24 Hours endurance race, as it has with a team of employees since 2007 with the aim of personnel development. It will now increase these activities by entering a staff team in the All Japan Rally Championship and having Toyota mechanics participate in Japan's Super Taikyu series. In addition to providing a full range of grass-roots motorsports events such as the GAZOO Racing 86/BRZ Race and GAZOO Racing "Waku-Doki" driving, it has also established a support program to nurture professional rally drivers.

Going forward, Toyota will continue to work together with its affiliates to promote activities for consumers to see, learn about and experience motorsports, thereby contributing to the creation of ever-better cars, satisfying the passion of car lovers and bringing the joy of cars to an even wider audience.