PLANO,
Texas, Aug. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Toyota Gazoo
Racing North America's GR Cup Series is going high-tech to deepen
ties between drivers and fans. Leveraging the expertise of software
and data services company Toyota Connected North America (TCNA),
the GR Cup Series has created personalized digital trophies via
polygon blockchain that display driver statistics, podium finishes,
finishing position and lap times in a sharable package that updates
after every race weekend.
"With the GR Cup Series, we see an opportunity to introduce
technologies that will enhance the experience for our drivers and
allow them to better engage with racing fans," said Jack Irving, executive commercial director, TRD.
"Blockchain helps us keep a permanent digital record of drivers'
achievements that they can share with their friends, family and
fans. It also allows us to develop new opportunities to introduce
race fans to our partners."
The benefit of blockchain records is that they are
non-fungible; they are a permanent source of truth for
how drivers perform after each race weekend. As drivers head into
this weekend's Big Machine Music City Grand Prix in Nashville, they are able to quickly and easily
access their accomplishments through the first three GR Cup
weekends – Sonoma Raceway, Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in
Austin, Texas, and Virginia
International Raceway.
"We wanted to push the boundaries of what the driver experience
means with the GR Cup Series, and the digital trophy program allows
us to do that," said TCNA technical program manager Tim Muttitt. "Blockchain technology allows us to
do that and keep it authentic, with the GR Cup Series designed to
focus on the talent behind the wheel. We're enabling greater
visibility to the drivers through this unique
technology."
Currently in its inaugural season, the GR Cup Series is
sanctioned through SRO and provides drivers and teams the
opportunity to compete at some of the most iconic racing venues in
North America. The single-make
series, featuring the Toyota GR86, consists of 14 races in total
with double-headers at some of the U.S.'s most iconic tracks: COTA,
Virginia International Raceway, Road America, Sebring International
Raceway and the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
All GR86 Cup race cars start as stock vehicles that then go to
GR Garage, TRD's (Toyota Racing Development) new, state-of-the-art
facility in Mooresville, North
Carolina, to be modified for competition. Upon arrival at GR
Garage, each GR86 is fitted with Bosch® engine management, custom
Borla® exhaust, SADEV® 6-speed sequential transmission, Alcon®
brakes, adjustable JRI Shocks®, OMP® safety equipment, roll cage,
carbon fiber rear wing, 22-gallon fuel cell, TRD-designed
MacPherson struts, Stratasys® custom bodywork, a TRD-designed
splitter and more.
More information about the GR Cup can be found at GR Cup |
Toyota.com.
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in the
U.S. for more than 65 years, and is committed to advancing
sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus
brands, plus our nearly 1,500 dealerships.
Toyota directly employs more than 49,000 people in the U.S. who
have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of more
than 33 million cars and trucks at our nine manufacturing plants.
By 2025, Toyota's 10th plant in North
Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for
electrified vehicles. With more electrified vehicles on the road
than any other automaker, Toyota currently offers 24 electrified
options.
To help inspire the next generation for a career in STEM-based
fields, including mobility, Toyota launched its virtual education
hub at www.TourToyota.com with an immersive experience and chance
to virtually visit many of our U.S. manufacturing facilities. The
hub also includes a series of free STEM-based lessons and
curriculum through Toyota USA
Foundation partners, virtual field trips and more. For more
information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.
About TOYOTA GAZOO Racing
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing embodies Toyota's commitment to overcoming
every limit to make 'ever-better' cars, to forge new technologies
and solutions under the extreme conditions of motorsports, and to
never stop innovating. TOYOTA GAZOO Racing races its cars to push
the limits for better and to learn from the toughest challenges.
Competing on every kind of road, no matter what the challenge,
inspires TOYOTA GAZOO Racing to build 'ever-better' cars and
engineer Toyota's future DNA to bring freedom, adventure, and joy
of driving to everyone. For more information, visit
www.toyotagazooracing.com.
About Toyota Connected, Inc.
Based in Plano, Texas, Toyota
Connected North America (TCNA) was established in 2016 to
contribute toward Toyota's global vision for an intelligent mobile
society. TCNA is an independent Toyota company that serves as a
software and innovation hub, leveraging big data from vehicles to
humanize the driving experience and provide customers secure,
seamless and contextual services. Comprised primarily of software
engineers and data scientists, TCNA serves as a center of
excellence for connected services that elevate the customer
experience as well as benefitting dealers, distributors and
partners. At the heart of TCNA is Toyota's belief in human-centered
mobility and a fundamental commitment to personal privacy. Learn
more at toyotaconnected.com.
MEDIA CONTACTS
Jacob Brown, Connected
Communications
Toyota Motor North America
469-486-4042
jacob.brown@toyota.com
Sam Mahoney, Corporate
Communications
Toyota Motor North America
980-900-8573
samuel.mahoney@toyota.com
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SOURCE Toyota Connected North America; Toyota Gazoo Racing North
America