Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda is a regular Japanese guy: Shy in public, but blogging on his computer every day. Using the handle “Morizou,” he blogs about his love for sports cars and auto racing on Gazoo.com, which he founded in 1998, if Todayonline has it right. Akio Toyoda is also an avid racer. His appearances at the 24 Hours Nürburgring endurance race in a Lexus LFA are legend. He is chickening out!
Akio a.k.a. Morizou went on-line, apologized to his loyal readers at Gazoo.com for the recall and broke the news that “unfortunately this year Morizou will not race at the Nürburgring.”
Team GAZOO Racing will be part of the line-up. They will send seven drivers and a large pit crew. But no Morizou behind the wheel. Ueeeeeen! (which is Japanese for “Waaaaaah”.) Come on, Morizou, we need you. Or do you want the LFA race by itself?
Going racing would probably the worst thing Toyoda could do right now. Given the negative publicity surrounding him, any entry into the event would likely be covered in a negative light and be considered frivolous, which negates the whole point in spending money on a motorsports event.
Also, the last event he entered before he became CEO, when he obviously had more free time and was more involved with Gazoo; which he created.
There is also the consideration that having a real race driver rather then a middle-aged Japanese executive behind the wheel would likely provide better race results.
Toyota’s Racing Slogan — “Pedal to the Metal”
He is not retreating. He is advancing in another direction.