Sportscar/GT (and Le Mans) Rumours

[Speed-King]

Originally Posted by ger80

Let's have a CN thread please

I think there actually was one at some point. Let's see if I can find it.

There it is: http://www.ten-tenths.com/forum/show...prototype+VdeV

Last post from 2010, though.

[CTD]

Well, lets revive it!

[Articus]

What if Toyota is contemplating a name change in 2014 or 2015 for its sportscar team? What if they plan to give Lexus more exposure? Its would basically be a mirror of Volkswagen does. Toyota switches to WRC and Lexus races WEC while Audi/Porsche race WEC and Volkswagen races in WRC. They would be cleverly blindsiding the ACO/FIA. Because yes Toyota will leave the WEC irregardless hoping to have already poached favorable petrol regs only for Lexus to take its place. Then Toyota could compete against Volkswagen which is honestly there main competitor in the global automarket right now. Toyota is to Japan as what Volkswagen is to Germany. and similarly all of there models lineup to compete against each other. Toyota is if not bigger than just Volkswagen. They both have numerous subsidiaries.

Wouldnt it be likely for them to follow the same logic in allowing there premium brands to race WEC(Where brand exposure is targetted towards the market that WEC attracts). The average joe brands(Toyota/VW) to race WRC where they areas and more remote locations in big countries where the market is small toyota's/ Volkswagen.

[CTD]

Originally Posted by Articus

What if Toyota is contemplating a name change in 2014 or 2015 for its sportscar team? What if they plan to give Lexus more exposure? Its would basically be a mirror of Volkswagen does. Toyota switches to WRC and Lexus races WEC while Audi/Porsche race WEC and Volkswagen races in WRC. They would be cleverly blindsiding the ACO/FIA. Because yes Toyota will leave the WEC irregardless hoping to have already poached favorable petrol regs only for Lexus to take its place. Then Toyota could compete against Volkswagen which is honestly there main competitor in the global automarket right now. Toyota is to Japan as what Volkswagen is to Germany. and similarly all of there models lineup to compete against each other. Toyota is if not bigger than just Volkswagen. They both have numerous subsidiaries.

Wouldnt it be likely for them to follow the same logic in allowing there premium brands to race WEC(Where brand exposure is targetted towards the market that WEC attracts). The average joe brands(Toyota/VW) to race WRC where they areas and more remote locations in big countries where the market is small toyota's/ Volkswagen.

Hmm, don't see it happening, as the PR gained with a Le Mans entry would be wasted with Lexus's limited market. The PR from Le Mans is much better suited on the Toyota brand itself.
Remember that Lexus isn't a strong marque in Europe, and the competition in the Toyota/VW/Peugeot market is fierce, and every single form of PR is valuable!

[Articus]

So then is it probable that Toyota races in the WRC and WEC. Otherwise they would just be losing out to VW group regardless of what series they run.

[CTD]

Originally Posted by Articus

So then is it probable that Toyota races in the WRC and WEC. Otherwise they would just be losing out to VW group regardless of what series they run.

I do see a gain in running both series .
WEC to promote Hybrid technology and WRC to promote a selected model.

The most likely high profile race series, i see Lexus in, is DTM, battling with their main market competition of Audi, Mercedes and BMW. (a discussion for the DTM part of the forum, of course)

[alexkiller8]

toyota could enter in DTM only if wants to promote a car in the german market. Outside germany DTM hasn't a great media coverage.

[Articus]

Originally Posted by alexkiller8

toyota could enter in DTM only if wants to promote a car in the german market. Outside germany DTM hasn't a great media coverage.

I was in Munich back in June and I do not remember seeing a single Lexus. Do they even sell Lexus in Germany.

Edit: they have a "website". Well then they need all the brand exposure they can get.

[chernaudi]

There's a performance Lexus that's being worked on by TMG in Cologne, and the car is supposed to be branded as a TMG edition Lexus, or as a TMG product in and of itself.

Considering how much motorsports work that they do, it overshadows the fact that Toyota Motorsport GmbH is also a Toyota/Lexus tuning company, too.

[alexkiller8]

a lmp1 program, a SGT program, a future WRC program, a possible DTM program... maybe too much, even for the most important automotive manufacturer in the world.

[Articus]

I think they shiuld stick to things that have more international coverage and locations. like WEC and perhaps WRC.
Toyota will always race in Super GT in the same way that Audi will always race in DTM in the same way that the American manufacturers always race in Nascar.

I dont believe the Lexus DTM program is that high on the list. Unless the series plans on changing names because Duetsche Tourenwagen a Lexus is not......

[Dead-Eye]

Originally Posted by Articus

I was in Munich back in June and I do not remember seeing a single Lexus. Do they even sell Lexus in Germany.

Edit: they have a "website". Well then they need all the brand exposure they can get.

I live in Germany, and they're actually a fairly regular sight.

[DS"]

Originally Posted by alexkiller8

a lmp1 program, a SGT program, a future WRC program, a possible DTM program... maybe too much, even for the most important automotive manufacturer in the world.

A LMP1 program, a DTM program, a GT3 program, an IRC program, a future WRC program, a future WTCC program...maybe too much for a company like Volkswagen.

But Toyota entering WRC? Sorry, but the series has devolved more and more into a joke. A customer car for the IRC might be possible, but that's all. WRC isn't what it used to be 10 years ago.

But Toyota entering DTM? Nah, TMG's resources are perhaps completely streched out with their LMP1.

[CTD]

Originally Posted by DS"

A LMP1 program, a DTM program, a GT3 program, an IRC program, a future WRC program, a future WTCC program...maybe too much for a company like Volkswagen.

But Toyota entering WRC? Sorry, but the series has devolved more and more into a joke. A customer car for the IRC might be possible, but that's all. WRC isn't what it used to be 10 years ago.

But Toyota entering DTM? Nah, TMG's resources are perhaps completely streched out with their LMP1.

Well, VW enters WRC, so there must be something there .

And my comment about Lexus and DTM, was not to raise a discussion in this forum, but only a comment on where they might have the biggest PR success for the brand. I would love to discuss this - in a DTM thread, not here.

[alexkiller8]

is really different, is true that audi and porsche are part of VW holding but they are car manufacters with a good amount of freedom and autonomy. To explain, audi use their sport section (audi sport) to support autonomously their lmp1, dtm and gt3 official/customer programs, surely VW has some influence on audi managment, but i don't think that VW supports audi sport economicly. The same can be said for porsche. While speaking about toyota, TMG (lmp1 program) and TRD (SGT, WRC) are not different brand/manufacters owned by toyota, but simply sport sections of toyota.