Toyota Lays Foundations for N24 Return with NLS Outing

Toyota took its first steps towards a return to the Nürburgring 24 with its foray in last weekend’s opening rounds of the NLS with a pair of works-backed GR Supra GT4 Evos.

The Japanese manufacturer last contested the German endurance classic with a full factory effort in 2019 headlined by a specially-prepared Lexus LC entered in the SP-Pro class, and planned to return in 2020 with the same car until the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic brought the program to a halt.

Last December however, Toyota announced tentative plans to prepare for a return to the N24 “from 2025 onwards” by way of making one-off appearances in the NLS this year.

This came to fruition last weekend as Kamui Kobayashi and three drivers from the Toyota young driver stable – Kazuto Kotaka, Hibiki Taira and Seita Nonaka – took part in last weekend’s opening double-header of the season, all making their Nordschleife debuts.

KCMG was tasked with running the two GR Supras, decked out in Toyota Gazoo Racing’s new-for-2024 black livery as seen in the FIA World Endurance Championship, owing to its previous experience of running the car in the N24.

Kobayashi – who races for KCMG in Super Formula alongside his WEC commitments – and Kotaka shared the No. 172 car, while Taira and Nonaka piloted the No. 173 machine.

The two pairings finished both races, with Taira and Nonaka claiming a best finish of seventh in the SP10 class and 72nd overall in the second race, which was sufficient to earn all four drivers the DMSB Grade A license needed to race in the N24 in future.

Kobayashi was coy on any plans to contest the N24 when interviewed by the official NLS feed, but said he had enjoyed his first experience on the Nordschleife.

“It’s been challenging, but a really fun two days,” he said. “If I have the opportunity, I want to drive [in the N24] one day. I still need to learn the track a little bit, but lap by lap it’s more fun and I enjoyed it here.”

Kotaka, Taira and Nonaka meanwhile were selected by Toyota to race in the NLS build up their experience of racing abroad, all three having raced mostly on Japan’s domestic racing ladder with the Japanese marque’s support.

The trio will kick off their main campaigns in SUPER GT’s lower GT300 category for Toyota-affiliated teams apr, Inging and Saitama Green Brave respectively in this weekend’s Okayama opener, while Kotaka also competes in Super Formula.

Clashes with the Super Formula and SUPER GT schedules make appearances in NLS3, NLS4 and NLS5 unlikely, but the season-concluding NLS6 on Nov. 16 could offer a further chance to build up their experience ahead of a potential N24 assault in 2025.