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Behind-the-Scenes with Lexus @ 24h Nürburgring Race


It’s been a couple weeks since the Lexus LFAs competed in the Nürburgring 24h race, but I wanted to mention this great article from Hans Greimel of Automotive News, who spent the entire weekend with the Toyota crew.

The entire piece tells an interesting story, but I really enjoyed reading about Toyota President Akio Toyoda’s reaction to the #50 LFA winning the SP8 class:

With 15 minutes left in the race, the crews of all teams crowd the outer pit wall to cheer on their drivers. In front of the Gazoo Racing pit, shutterbug Akio is standing on the roof of the team’s signaling booth, snapping photos and waving his support.

A jubilant President Toyoda leads his team to the infield — breaking into sprints at times — and begins passing out Warsteiner beers and posing for team pictures. Then it’s back to the pits, where the entire team proceeds to shower one another with more champagne and beer. In a year of observing and chronicling Toyoda, I’ve never seen the president laugh, let alone smile, so much.

“We started from nothing just four years ago, and here we are today,” Toyoda said before being drenched in beer. “Our people are stronger; our cars are stronger. Our team really did a great job.”

This reminds me — I wanted to share this Akio Toyoda & the Gazoo Racing mascot desktop wallpaper:

Akio Toyoda & Gazoo Racing Mascot

Love this image — I’ve been using it as my desktop wallpaper ever since the race ended.

[Source:Automotive News]

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Comments
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    WorldofLuxury
  • May 28, 2010
sigh... if I were his close friend...
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    Evn
  • May 29, 2010
Great read. I look forward to seeing Gazoo Racing and the LFA's in next years 24Hour race.
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    tilps
  • May 29, 2010
Cmon we want Videooooos. Pls onboard lap. pls pls pls
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    Evn
  • May 29, 2010
@tilps: I believe only the top 20 qualifiers get both the blinking blue light and on-board video cameras. But there is a video on youtube taken from a Porsche 997 GT3 Cup running through its first lap and both #50 and #51 LFA's make an appearance. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fx56RsG-Euw&feature=player_embedded#!
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    tilps
  • May 30, 2010
yes but that Proche started behind lf-a And i think all teams can but own cameras in. These top 20 cameras are for tele, i think.

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