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TGR Driver Challenge Program

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TGR Driver Challenge Program
Founded2001; 25 years ago (2001) (as Toyota Drivers Academy in 2003)[1]
BaseCologne, Germany & Japan
Team principal(s)Kazuki Nakajima
Current driversJapan Rikuto Kobayashi
Japan Miki Koyama
Japan Yuzuki Miura
Japan Ritomo Miyata
Japan Masana Muto
Japan Jin Nakamura
Finland Kalle Rovanperä
Japan Yuki Sano
Japan Tokiya Suzuki
Japan Kiyoshi Umegaki
Austria Charlie Wurz
Austria Oscar Wurz

The Toyota Gazoo Racing Driver Challenge Program (TGR-DC) formerly known as the Toyota Drivers Academy and Toyota Young Drivers Programme (TDP), is a driver development programme by Toyota Gazoo Racing. It is meant to promote talent in different racing series by helping them with funds, hoping to find drivers who will race for the team in the future. Notable graduates of the scheme are Kazuki Nakajima, Kamui Kobayashi; who made their F1 debuts for Williams and Toyota, respectively.

The program was launched in 2001 when Toyota entered Formula 1, and wants to promote young drivers from Japan, and other countries that are able to reach F1.

Ritomo Miyata driving for ART Grand Prix during the 2025 Formula 2 Championship
Jin Nakamura driving for R-ace GP during the 2025 Formula Regional European Championship

Current drivers

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TGR-DC drivers

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Driver Years Current Series Titles as TGR-DC driver
Japan Ritomo Miyata[2][3] 2017–2021,
2025– 		Formula 2 Championship F4 Japanese Championship (2017)
Super Formula Lights (2020)
Japan Miki Koyama[4] 2022– Super GT – GT300 Formula Regional Japanese Championship (2022)
Japan Rikuto Kobayashi[5] 2024– Super Formula Championship
Super GT – GT500 		None
Japan Jin Nakamura[5] 2024– Formula Regional Oceania Trophy
FIA Formula 3 Championship
GB3 Championship 		None
Japan Yuki Sano[3] 2025– Formula Regional Middle East Trophy
Formula Regional European Championship 		None
Japan Tokiya Suzuki[3] 2025– Super Formula Lights
Super GT – GT300 		F4 Japanese Championship (2025)
Japan Kiyoshi Umegaki[3] 2025– Super Formula Lights
Super GT – GT300 		Formula Regional Japanese Championship (2025)
Japan Yuzuki Miura[6] 2026– Formula Regional Japanese Championship
Super Formula Lights
F4 Japanese Championship 		None
Japan Masana Muto[6] 2026– Formula Regional Japanese Championship
F4 Japanese Championship 		None
Finland Kalle Rovanperä[6] 2026– Formula Regional Oceania Trophy None
Austria Charlie Wurz[6] 2026– Super Formula Championship
Super GT – GT300 		None
Austria Oscar Wurz[6] 2026– Super Formula Lights None
  • Championship titles highlighted in bold.

Former drivers

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TGR-DC drivers

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Driver Years Series competed
Japan Takashi Kogure 2001 Japanese Formula 3 Championship (2001)
Japan Norihiko Tasaki 2001 Japanese Formula 3 Championship (2001)
Australia Ryan Briscoe[7][8][1] 2001–2005 Formula Renault 2000 Italy (2001)
Formula Renault 2000 Eurocup (2001)
German Formula 3 Championship (2002)
International Formula 3000 (2002)
Formula 3 Euro Series (2003)
IndyCar Series (2005)
Japan Katsuyuki Hiranaka[8] 2001–2005 Japanese Formula 3 Championship (2002)
Formula 3 Euro Series (2003–2004)
Formula Nippon (2005)
Super GT – GT300 (2005)
Japan Tatsuya Kataoka 2001–2006 Japanese Formula 3 Championship (2002–2003)
Formula Nippon (2004–2006)
All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship – GT300 (2003, 2009–2010)
Super GT – GT500 (2005–2006, 2011)
France Franck Perera[7][8][1] 2001–2006 Formula Renault 2000 Italia (2002–2003)
Formula Renault 2000 Eurocup (2002)
Formula 3 Euro Series (2004–2005)
GP2 Series (2006)
Sweden Alexander Storckenfeldt[7] 2002 Formula Renault 2000 Eurocup (2002)
Japan Hiroki Yoshimoto 2002–2003 Japanese Formula 3 Championship (2002–2003)
Japan Naoki Yokomizo 2002–2004 Japanese Formula 3 Championship (2002–2004)
Japan Taku Bamba 2002–2005 Japanese Formula 3 Championship (2003–2005)
Japan Wataru Kobayakawa 2002–2004 Formula Toyota (2002)
Japanese Formula 3 Championship (2003–2004)
Japan Kohei Hirate[8][1][9] 2002–2011 Formula Renault 2000 Italia (2003)
Formula Renault 2000 Masters (2003)
Formula 3 Euro Series (2004–2006)
GP2 Series (2007)
Formula Nippon (2008–2011)
Super GT – GT300 (2008)
Super GT – GT500 (2009–2011)
Brazil Roberto Streit[8] 2003–2004 Formula Renault 2000 Italia (2003)
Formula 3 Euro Series (2004)
Japan Kamui Kobayashi[8][10][9] 2003–2011 Formula Renault 2000 Italia (2004)
Formula Renault Eurocup (2005)
Formula Renault 2.0 Italia (2005)
F3 Euro Series (2006–2007)
GP2 Asia Series (2008, 2008–09)
GP2 Series (2008–2009)
Formula One (2009–2011)
Japan Kazuki Nakajima[11][10][9] 2003–2011 Japanese Formula 3 Championship (2004)
JGTC – GT300 (2004)
F3 Euro Series (2005–2006)
GP2 Series (2007)
Formula One (2007–2009)
Formula Nippon (2010–2011)
United Kingdom Ben Clucas 2004 Formula Renault 2000 Italia (2004)
Japan Daisuke Ikeda 2004–2005 Japanese Formula 3 Championship (2004–2005)
Japan Yuhi Sekiguchi[12] 2004–2005,
2007 		Formula Toyota (2004–2005)
Japanese Formula 3 Championship (2007)
Japan Kazuya Oshima[10][9] 2004–2011 Formula Toyota (2005)
Japanese Formula 3 Championship (2006–2007)
Super GT – GT300 (2007)
Formula 3 Euro Series (2008)
Formula Nippon (2009–2011)
Super GT – GT500 (2009–2011)
Japan Hideto Yasuoka[10] 2005–2006 Japanese Formula 3 Championship (2005-2006)
Japan Hideki Yamauchi[9] 2005, 2008 Formula Toyota (2005)
Japanese Formula 3 Championship (2008)
Japan Tsubasa Abe[10] 2006 Japanese Formula 3 Championship (2006)
Japan Yoshifumi Kubota[10] 2006 Formula Challenge Japan (2006)
Japan Sadaomi Masuda[10][9] 2006 Formula Challenge Japan (2006)
United Kingdom Martin Plowman[10][9] 2006–2007 Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 (2006–2007)
Formula Renault 2.0 Italia (2006–2007)
Netherlands Henkie Waldschmidt[10][9] 2006–2008 Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 (2006–2007)
Formula Renault 2.0 Italia (2006–2007)
Formula 3 Euro Series (2008)
Japan Keisuke Kunimoto[10][9] 2006–2009 Formula Toyota (2006–2007)
Formula Challenge Japan (2006–2007)
Japanese Formula 3 Championship (2008–2009)
Super GT – GT300 (2008)
Macau Grand Prix (2008)
Formula Nippon (2009)
Japan Takuto Iguchi[10][9] 2006–2011 Formula Toyota (2006–2007)
Formula Challenge Japan (2006–2007)
Japanese Formula 3 Championship (2008–2009)
Super GT – GT300 (2008–2010)
Super GT – GT350 (2011)
Japan Takamitsu Matsui[12] 2007 Formula Toyota (2007)
Formula Challenge Japan (2007)
Italy Andrea Caldarelli[12][9][13][14] 2007–2008 Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 (2007–2008)
Formula Renault 2.0 WEC (2008)
Formula 3 Euro Series (2008)
Japan Hiroaki Ishiura[12][9] 2007–2011 Japanese Formula 3 Championship (2007–2009)
Super GT – GT300 (2007)
Super GT – GT500 (2008–2011)
Formula Nippon (2009–2011)
Italy Kei Cozzolino[9] 2008 Japanese Formula 3 Championship (2008)
Japan Yuji Kunimoto[9] 2008–2013 Formula Challenge Japan (2008)
Japanese Formula 3 Championship (2009–2010)
Super GT – GT300 (2009–2011)
Formula Nippon (2011–2012)
Super GT – GT500 (2012–2013)
Super Formula Championship (2013)
Japan Naoya Gamou[9][15] 2008,
2010–2011 		Formula Challenge Japan (2008)
Japanese Formula 3 Championship (2010–2011)
Japan Yuichi Nakayama[9][16] 2008,
2011–2016 		Formula Challenge Japan (2008)
Japanese Formula 3 Championship (2011–2013)
Super GT – GT300 (2013–2016)
Super Formula Championship (2014–2016)
Japan Takamoto Katsuta[17] 2012–2014 Japanese Formula 3 Championship (2012–2014)
Japan Ryo Hirakawa[2] 2013–2017 Super Formula Championship (2013–2015)
Super GT – GT500 (2014–2017)
European Le Mans Series - LMP2 (2016–2017)
Japan Kenta Yamashita[2][18] 2014–2020 Japanese Formula 3 Championship (2014–2016)
Super GT – GT300 (2015–2017)
Super GT – GT500 (2018–2019)
Super Formula Championship (2017–2020)
FIA World Endurance Championship (2019–20)
Japan Sho Tsuboi[2][19] 2016–2020 Japanese Formula 3 Championship (2016–2018)
Super GT – GT300 (2017–2018)
Super GT – GT500 (2019–2020)
Super Formula Championship (2019–2020)
Japan Kazuto Kotaka[18] 2019–2025 Toyota Racing Series (2019)
Japanese Formula 3 Championship (2019)
Super GT – GT300 (2019–2024)
Super Formula Lights (2020, 2022)
Super Formula Championship (2021, 2023–2025)
GT World Challenge Asia (2025)
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup (2025)
Super GT – GT500 (2025)
Japan Hibiki Taira[20] 2021–2025 Super Formula Lights (2021–2023)
Super GT – GT300 (2021–2025)
Super Formula Championship (2021, 2024–2025)
Super GT – GT300
Japan Seita Nonaka[4] 2022–2025 Super Formula Lights (2022–2025)
Super GT – GT300 (2022–2025)
GT World Challenge Asia (2023)
SRO Japan Cup – GT4 (2024–2025)
France Esteban Masson[3] 2025 Super Formula Lights (2025)
European Le Mans Series – LMP2 (2025)
FIA World Endurance Championship – LMGT3 (2025)
  • Championship titles highlighted in bold.

TGR-DC Racing School drivers

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The TGR-DC Racing School is a team for young Toyota drivers who compete in F4 Japanese Championship.

Driver Years in F4 Japan
Japan Hibiki Taira 2020
Japan Seita Nonaka 2020–2021
Japan Jiei Okuzumi 2020–2021
Japan Eijiro Shimizu 2020–2021
Japan Rin Arakawa 2021–2022
Japan Rikuto Kobayashi 2022–2023
Japan Jin Nakamura 2022–2023
Japan Ryoma Henzan 2022
Japan Shunji Okumoto 2023
Japan Yuki Sano 2023–2024
Japan Kazuhisa Urabe 2024
Japan Tokiya Suzuki 2024–2025
Japan Kiyoshi Umegaki 2024–2025
Japan Yuzuki Miura 2025–2026
Japan Masana Muto 2025–2026
Japan Takahiro Kikuchi 2025
Japan Megumu Suzuki 2025
Japan Masaki Hamabe 2026
Japan Buntaro Igarashi 2026
Japan Ryo Sakai 2026
Japan Tomoki Terashima 2026
  • Championship title highlighted in bold.
  • Promoted to TGR-DC drivers highlighted in italic.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Toyota Young Drivers Programme Ready for 2005". Toyota Gazoo Racing. 25 February 2005. Retrieved 25 February 2005.
  2. ^ a b c d "TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Outlines 2017 Motorsports Activities". Toyota Gazoo Racing. 2 February 2017. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
  3. ^ a b c d e "TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Presents its 2025 motorsport team setups in Japan". Toyota Gazoo Racing. 25 December 2024. Retrieved 25 December 2024.
  4. ^ a b "TOYOTA GAZOO Racing announced its 2022 motorsport team setups". Toyota Gazoo Racing. 6 December 2021. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  5. ^ a b "TOYOTA GAZOO Racing、2024年SUPER GT GT300クラス、スーパー耐久シリーズ参戦体制、国内レースのドライバー育成計画を発表". Toyota Gazoo Racing. 10 January 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d e "TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Presents its 2026 motorsport team setups in Japan". Toyota Gazoo Racing. 19 December 2025. Retrieved 19 December 2025.
  7. ^ a b c "Toyota Finalise Young Drivers' Programme". atlasf1.com. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
  8. ^ a b c d e f "Toyota launches 'Drivers Academy'". Crash.net. 25 February 2003. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "Toyota Outlines Motorsports Activities for 2008". Toyota. 7 March 2008. Retrieved 7 March 2008.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Toyota Outlines Motorsports Activities for 2006". Toyota. 3 March 2006. Retrieved 3 March 2006.
  11. ^ "3 Japanese drivers from TOYOTA Young Drivers Program will participate in F1 tests in 2007". Toyota Gazoo Racing. 10 November 2007. Retrieved 10 November 2007.
  12. ^ a b c d "Toyota Outlines Motorsports Activities for 2007". Toyota. 12 March 2007. Retrieved 12 March 2007.
  13. ^ "Teen tests Toyota". eurosport. 17 December 2008. Retrieved 17 December 2008.
  14. ^ "Toyota give Caldarelli maiden test". autosport. 17 December 2008. Retrieved 17 December 2008.
  15. ^ "TMC Outlines Motorsports Activities for 2010". Toyota. 15 March 2010. Retrieved 15 March 2010.
  16. ^ "Toyota GAZOO Racing Outlines 2016 Motorsports Activities" (PDF). Toyota Gazoo Racing. 4 February 2016. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  17. ^ "Toyota Outlines Its Motorsports Activities for CY2014". Toyota Gazoo Racing. 30 January 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
  18. ^ a b "TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Outlines 2019 Motorsports Activities". Toyota Gazoo Racing. 7 February 2019. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
  19. ^ "TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Outlines 2020 Motorsports Activities". Toyota Gazoo Racing. 7 February 2020. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
  20. ^ "TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Outlines 2021 Motorsports Activities". Toyota Gazoo Racing. 2 December 2020. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
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