Toyota participates in the legendary 1000 Miglia race for the first time in history
The Italian 1000 Miglia race is traditionally associated with local legends such as Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, Lancia, and Maserati, as well as German participants like Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Porsche. However, history is being rewritten in Brescia, as Toyota became the first Japanese manufacturer to officially register cars for participation in the 1000 Miglia Gran Turismo Experience.
Although this is a support event, Toyota took the challenge seriously. The Japanese automotive giant brought a carefully selected quintet of cars from its historical collection.
Five icons of the Japanese automotive industry
The most modern car in the delegation is the Lexus LFA supercar. Introduced in 2010, it is equipped with a naturally aspirated V10 engine producing 553 hp (412 kW / 560 hp). The LFA was developed at the Nürburgring track and has five class wins at the 24-hour race on the same circuit.
Next is the iconic A80 generation Toyota Supra — a sports car that defined the 90s and had a successful career in the Japanese Grand Touring Championship (later renamed Super GT).
Toyota skipped the 80s and 70s, jumping straight to the 60s. The 2000GT is one of the most beautiful cars ever created in Japan and a coveted classic example. This grand tourer with a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter six-cylinder engine is also known for its performance, setting many records and achieving a 1-2 finish at the Fuji 24-hour race.
The Toyota Sports 800 is a small sports car with an aerodynamic design and a tiny 790 cc engine producing 44 hp (33 kW / 45 hp), which was borrowed from the Publica city car. It was produced from 1965 to 1969 and is quite rare. The racing version won the inaugural Suzuka 500 km race in 1966 without a single pit stop for refueling.
Last but not least is the oldest model in the collection — the first generation Crown Model RS. This sedan was introduced in 1955 as the first passenger car fully manufactured in Japan. It proved its reliability by covering 50,000 km (31,069 miles) from London to Tokyo in eight months in 1956.
Historical context and cultural exchange
The original 1000 Miglia was a racing event held in Italy from 1927 to 1957, covering a distance of 1000 miles (1600 km) on public roads. Today, the historical rally is accessible only to cars that participated in the original editions. However, it has been joined by a support event, the 1000 Miglia Gran Turismo Experience, organized by Polyphony Digital, the creators of the popular driving simulator for PlayStation consoles.
Toyota’s presence at the event aims to foster cultural exchange between the historic European motorsport scene and Japan’s own automotive culture. The company describes the 1000 Miglia as one of the origins of “continuous improvement of automobile manufacturing based on motorsports.”
The company describes the 1000 Miglia as one of the origins of “continuous improvement of automobile manufacturing based on motorsports.”
This move by Toyota is significant not only for the company itself but for the entire Japanese automotive industry, which is receiving official recognition at such a level in Europe for the first time. Participation in the 1000 Miglia Gran Turismo Experience demonstrates that Japanese manufacturers are not only catching up but are actively integrating into the most prestigious automotive traditions of the Old World. The choice of cars — from the modest Sports 800 to the luxurious LFA — underscores the multifaceted nature of Toyota’s heritage, which encompasses both affordable and high-performance models. It also testifies to the growing globalization of motorsport, where geographical and cultural boundaries are becoming increasingly blurred, giving way to a shared passion for speed and engineering excellence.