Sign up for festival
The annual get-together between Toyota owners and the marque returns to the South Island and Highlands Motorsport Park for March 15 and 16.
The Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) Festival is a celebration of the company’s customers, and cars of all shapes, sizes and ages.
It’s a chance to mix and mingle with other Toyota fans, share stories and get your Toyota out onto a track.
Visitors will see all manner of history on display and on the racetrack. There is likely to be classic and new coupes and sports cars such as AE86s, GT Starlets, old SR Corollas and new GR Corollas, Supras, fully modified 1JZ engines and factory original Crowns.
TGR vice-president, Andrew Davis, says: “We really enjoy putting on this event every year. It’s one way to say thank you to our loyal fans, have some fun and provide something a little bit special for our Toyota family.”
Registrations for the two-day festival are now open. Davis says if you want to participate and book a slot on the racetrack or in the nearby 4x4 trek experience, registering early is imperative.
“There will be a range of on and off-track events, some of which need to be booked. This year we are offering an exclusive track experience – a full day of track activity including sessions on the racetrack, a gymkhana course and expert advice.”
The Highlands track experience will be on the 15th and will include instruction and feedback from professional drivers.
Each participant, driving their own Toyota, will have two 15-minute follow the leader sessions on the A+C circuit and another two 15-minute sessions on the full circuit. It costs $299 per person.
There will also be the show and shine competition. Any Toyota or Lexus can be entered whether they are highly tuned track weapons or detailed rebuilds of classics.
Categories will be based on age and prizes are on offer for best original, best engine bay, best interior and people’s choice award.
All Toyotas and Lexuses will also be invited to take part in the parade lap and then pose for the main straight photo. The lap starts at midday on the Saturday.
There will also be a range of new Toyota vehicles on view, including the latest iterations of the GR Yaris, GR Corolla and the limited-edition GR86 Hakone. For more details and to register, visit Toyota GR Festival 2025.
