Lexus Team TOM'S

Lexus Team TOM'S
Name	Lexus Team TOM'S
Founded	1974
Base	Setagaya, Japan
Principal	Nobuhide Tachi
Drivers	Juichi Wakisaka, Kazuki Nakajima, Alexandre Prémat
Series	Super GT, Super Formula, 24 Hours of Le Mans
Former names	TOM'S

Lexus Team TOM'S is a Japanese motorsport team and tuning company closely associated with Toyota Motor Corporation and the Lexus marque. Founded in 1974 by former Toyota factory drivers, the organization operates factory-supported entries in premier Japanese series and has campaigned internationally at endurance events and manufacturer showcases. Renowned for its engineering partnership with Toyota Gazoo Racing and its role in driver development, the team has influenced touring car, prototype, and single-seater competition in Asia and beyond.

History

TOM'S was established in 1974 by former Toyota works drivers Nobuhide Tachi and Kiyoshi Oiwa as a specialist tuning and racing outfit, initially focusing on Japanese Touring Car Championship and privateer entries with Corolla and Crown platforms. In the 1980s TOM'S expanded into international endurance racing, competing at events such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Spa 24 Hours with Group C machinery and prototype experiments. The 1990s saw a closer factory relationship with Toyota Motor Corporation and the emergence of the Lexus brand; TOM'S became a principal partner for Lexus motorsport efforts in Japan and Asia. In the 2000s the team consolidated its presence in Super GT and Formula Nippon (later Super Formula), securing multiple championships and contributing to manufacturer strategies for hybrid and GT3 programs. Throughout the 2010s and 2020s TOM'S remained integral to Toyota Gazoo Racing’s global motorsport portfolio, supporting development for events like the World Endurance Championship and talent pathways to Formula One and FIA World Rally Championship crossover opportunities.

Race Programs and Championships

TOM'S has campaigned in series including Super GT, Super Formula, the Japanese Touring Car Championship, and endurance classics such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 1000 km of Suzuka. The team captured multiple titles in Super GT's GT500 class, contributing to championship wins for drivers and helping Lexus claim manufacturer honors. In single-seaters, TOM'S secured championships in Formula Nippon/Super Formula with drivers who later reached Formula One and international prototype programs. TOM'S entries have also taken class victories and podiums at endurance races like the Spa 24 Hours and the Bathurst 12 Hour, underlining the outfit’s versatility across sprint, endurance, and open-wheel disciplines.

Notable Drivers

Across decades TOM'S has employed and developed prominent drivers, many of whom advanced to international careers. Notables include Satoshi Motoyama, a multi-time Super GT and Super Formula champion; Juichi Wakisaka, a GT500 championship-winning figure; Kazuki Nakajima, who progressed to Formula One with Williams Grand Prix Engineering and returned to prototype programs with Toyota Gazoo Racing; and Takuma Sato, who moved from Japanese formulae to Formula One and IndyCar Series success. The team also fielded international talents such as Alexandre Prémat and supported young prospects who later joined academies like the Red Bull Junior Team and manufacturer driver programs at Toyota Gazoo Racing and NISMO.

Vehicles and Technical Development

TOM'S engineering portfolio spans modified production racers, bespoke GT prototypes, and high-performance single-seaters. The team developed competitive versions of the Lexus SC, Lexus IS, and Lexus RC for GT500 competition, integrating aerodynamics, chassis refinement, and powertrain optimization in collaboration with Toyota Technical Center specialists. In formula categories TOM'S prepared chassis for Reynard and bespoke teams in Formula Nippon, optimizing suspension, electronics, and engine calibration for naturally aspirated and later turbocharged regulations. TOM'S also participated in hybrid and energy recovery research aligned with Toyota's hybrid systems deployed in World Endurance Championship programs, contributing to software, control systems, and drivetrain integration. Their wind tunnel work and computational fluid dynamics studies often paralleled efforts at facilities used by Toyota Gazoo Racing and independent motorsport suppliers.

Team Organization and Operations

Operating from workshops in the Tokyo Metropolis region, TOM'S combines race engineering, vehicle development, and aftermarket tuning divisions. Leadership has included founders like Nobuhide Tachi and corporate figures coordinating with Toyota Motor Corporation and Lexus International for factory support, logistics, and homologation. The organization fields multiple pit crews, performance engineering teams, and driver coaching staff during race weekends, leveraging partnerships with suppliers such as Yokohama Rubber Company and Bridgestone Corporation when applicable. TOM'S also maintains a motorsport academy-like function, scouting talent from series such as the Formula 4 championships in Japan and feeder formulae including F3 Asian Championship and regional touring car ladders.

Sponsorship and Partnerships

TOM'S long-standing partnership with Toyota Motor Corporation and Lexus positions the team as a factory-aligned entity, while commercial sponsors have included automotive and technology firms. Collaborative technical relationships extend to component manufacturers and tire suppliers like Bridgestone Corporation and engine builders engaged by Toyota Gazoo Racing. Marketing and branding alliances have linked TOM'S to events promoted by organizations such as the Japan Automobile Federation and series organizers like GT Association for Super GT. International campaigns brought cooperation with endurance specialists and race organizers such as the Automobile Club de l'Ouest and promoters of the Intercontinental GT Challenge.

Category:Auto racing teams in Japan Category:Toyota Motorsport