Toyota GAZOO Racing outlines 2016 motorsports activities   Amman, Jordan – February 24, 2016: Toyota GAZOO Racing, the in-house brand responsible for motorsports activities administered by Toyota Motor Corporation, has recently announced its schedule for 2016. Under the Toyota GAZOO Racing team name, Toyota will participate in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), the Nürburgring 24 Hours endurance race and the Japanese Rally Championship. WEC 2016 will see the debut of the new Toyota TS050 Hybrid race vehicle, with which the team will aim to recapture the series championship and achieve its first win in the 24 Hours of Le Mans this June.   The TS050 Hybrid utilizes a new hybrid system developed at Toyota’s Higashi-Fuji Technical Center. In the 2016 Nürburgring 24 Hours endurance race, Toyota will celebrate its tenth year of participation by entering three cars: the Toyota C-HR Racing, and the Lexus RC F and RC.   While commenting on these activities, the Sales and Marketing director and deputy GM at Al-Markazia, the sole distributor of Toyota, Lexus and Hino trucks in Jordan, Nadim Haddad said, “Motorsports events offer a crucial means of conveying the excitement of driving, and are at the heart of Toyota’s efforts to foster a greater following of car fans and enthusiasts. At Al-Markazia we are always up-to-speed regarding all the activities that Toyota organizes around the globe. This ensures that Toyota lovers in the Kingdom are always well informed about all the new happenings in the world of cars and auto racing”.   In the U.S., Toyota will continue to compete in NASCAR events, while in South America, Toyota will support Toyota Auto Body Co., Ltd., who will participate in the Dakar Rally in early 2017. Meanwhile, in Japan, Toyota will participate in the Super GT and Super Formula series, both of which are in the top tier of motorsports events within Japan, and will also compete in the Super Taikyu series with the 86 coupe.   In 2017, Toyota will return to the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC). Preparations are ongoing, with a rally vehicle based on the Yaris compact hatchback currently being developed to meet FIA 2017 regulations.   As part of its initiatives to cultivate young drivers who hope to compete in high-level international racing events, Toyota will continue to run the Toyota GAZOO Racing Rally Challenge Program for rallies, and the Toyota Young Drivers Program (TDP) for races.   Furthermore, Toyota will continue to share information about upcoming races, rallies and events by utilizing digital platforms and social networking sites. Toyota will also share updates on its lineups of tuned and performance models, such as the GRMN and G’s series, which have been adapted based on racing and rally experiences.   A new logo for Toyota GAZOO Racing activities has also been announced, along with a unified color scheme that will be implemented for all vehicles that race in WRC, WEC, the Nürburgring 24 Hours endurance race and the Japanese Rally Championship.   -Ends-     About Al-Markazia: Al-Markazia is the sole distributor of Toyota, Lexus and Hino trucks in Jordan. Since 1999 it has established itself as a leading company in Automobile sales, services and spare parts with 5 dealers spread over the Kingdom. Al-Markazia reached out to Jordanians as partners, and to their youth as motivators whose growth and success reflect that of the company. Thus, building a CSR program and a strategic approach that is grounded in the community is what makes Al-Markazia more than a distributor but an effective corporation that works for the betterment of society. Being Toyota’s sole distributor requires a solid value system that includes value for money, safety, quality, innovation and environmental responsibility. Al-Markazia translated these values into measurable actions by applying ecofriendly solutions such as installing a photovoltaic system on its roof tops, providing Jordanians with superior after sale services and situating the customer at the center of every strategic or tactical approach.