Toyota builds new race track

Toyota has created its own race track in their backyard, inspired by the fearsome German racetrack - the Nurburgring.

Named as the Toyota Technical Center Shimoyama, the facility is located at the heart of Toyota City in Aichi Prefecture, Japan and spans over 650 hectares.  

The facility houses specialised and high-speed test courses, vehicle development facilities, and a country road test course. The country road test course is a 5.3-kilometre track that is similar to the Nurburgring and has a 75-metre change in elevation.

The track utilises the local topography and features a wide range of long, fast and even slow curves and corners. Toyota has commenced partial operation of the track with a team of 50 people, mostly test drivers.

"With the aim of making ever-better cars, we have continued to make various efforts in 'feeling the road' and 'conversing with cars' through driving tests around the world, including our Five Continent Drive Project and the Nürburgring 24 Hours endurance race," says Toyota President Akio Toyoda. 

"Based on such experiences, we have replicated a variety of roads in the world at the new test course. In addition to conducting driving tests all over the world, and with the replication of severe driving conditions at the new test course, we intend to thoroughly hone every one of our models and develop the types of cars that epitomize the true joy of driving.

"As connected, autonomous, shared, and electric technologies promise to transform the very nature of mobility, Toyota will continue to make every effort to bring a smile to the faces of our customers, regardless of the form that cars take in the future."