Toyota Wins The Pioneering & Innovation Award In Autosport

December 6, 2023 / By Zunair Tahir / Automotive News

The World Endurance Championship, Formula One, and Formula Two were represented on the Pioneering and Innovation Award shortlist, which was a part of a new B2B component of the Awards created to honor top performers from the larger racing sector.

Alongside Toyota, the other nominees included Lewis Hamilton’s Mission 44, which pioneered the push for greater accessibility and minority representation in motorsport, McLaren Racing, for their creative “circular car” concept and method of recycling carbon composite, and the FIA F2 car, which has new features that encourage greater female participation and set new standards for support categories.

All of the nominated candidates pleased the judges, but Toyota had the upper hand because of its forward-thinking approach to developing racing technology and its conviction in the potential of hydrogen in motorsports.
Toyoda has given the project his whole backing, going so far as to frequently drive the prototypes and compete in a 24-hour race at Fuji using a Toyota powered by liquid hydrogen.

“I think the project started my new job in Toyota,” stated Kamui Kobayashi, who collected the honor on behalf of the company. Toyoda and I had a lengthy conversation about it three years prior, and the next day at breakfast, he inquired about taking turns driving the automobile. As soon as we were done, he opened the boot and showed me the large tank, even though it still sounded like a typical combustion engine. I wanted to give racing it a go.

“We announced at Le Mans this year that we want to race the hydrogen in 2026 or 2027, so I hope to race with this car.”

Six judges from the motorsports business cast their votes for the Award, with former Alpine and Aston Martin F1 team principal Otmar Szafnauer serving as the panel’s head. Research guru Nigel Geach, racing consultant and former CEO of FIA WEC Gerard Neveu, former F1 executive Kate Beavan (now with More than Equal), and motorsport sponsorship specialists Matthew Marsh and Melissa Berry were on the panel.

The Aston Martin Autosport BRDC Young Driver of the Year Award, the Autosport Williams Engineer of the Future Award, the Autosport Gold Medal with the Gregor Grant Award for lifetime legacy, the John Bolster Trophy for technical achievement, the Brand Partnership Award, Moment of the Year, and Promoter of the Year are among the other honors that are determined by knowledgeable judging panels.

Toyota Wins The Pioneering & Innovation Award In Autosport

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