Japan is planning a major assault on the lovely village of Nürburg in Germany this weekend. The weapons they’re using include one Lexus LFA and four Toyota GT86 racing cars. What they’re after is a place on podium at the Nurburgring 24 hours race. The LFA as well as two of the GT86s are fielded by Gazoo Racing, while the other two GT86 production cars are entered by Toyota Swiss Racing Team.

The LFA is no stranger to the ‘Ring, as it’s been racing there long before it even becomes a real produciton car. It will fight this years in the SP8 Class. The new boy GT86 is set for competing in the SP3 class.

Toyota decided that all the technicians and drivers for the teams should be Toyota employees from Japan. They want the people who actually design and engineer these cars to be directly involved in the sport, so they can use the experience in developing future cars. Great thinking.

Both the LFA and the GT86 has been warming up for the big race. Earlier this year they took part in two shorter-distance races at the Nurburgring, in which the LFA was twice a winner in its class and the GT86 showed promising progress.

Speaking after the most recent race, Gazoo Racing driver Akira Iida said: “The momentum of our team is very good. Our target for the 24 Hours Nürburgring race is to maintain a steady pace, in line with the way we have chosen to set up the vehicles.  Nevertheless, we have run at good speed and confident we will be full ready before the 24-hour event.”