Among the numerous unveilings and surprises at the 2016 Paris Motor Show was Toyota’s announcement
that it will be partnering with Microsoft for the 2017 FIA World Rally
Championship (WRC) series. The tech giant will be a “technology partner”
for the Toyota Gazoo Racing WRC team.
The world’s largest automaker sees motorsports as a means to “convey the
excitement of driving,” thus drawing in new fans and enthusiasts to the
brand. With its Gazoo Racing team, Toyota’s developers and products are
improved, which leads to “ever-better cars.” The team is headed by
rally legend Tommi Mäkinen, and a rally vehicle is being prepared for
next year’s season. Mäkinen, who won and defended the World Rally
Championship four times on the trot between 1996 and 1999, drove the
Yaris WRC Test Car onstage at the Paris Motor Show.
Toyota is utilizing Microsoft technology to increase its
competitiveness in the WRC, while also helping that knowledge to find
its way into production vehicles.
Microsoft
will support the Gazoo racing team in three areas. The first is the
development of an analysis platform to gather and analyze data, which
will then be implemented in competition. Secondly, an
information-sharing system will allow members of the team to share
various media in a cloud service. Finally, an improvement of
communication through the cloud and Microsoft’s devices will give fans a
more personal track experience.
Toyota and Microsoft have collaborated before, more recently on
Toyota Connected, a company that uses collected data to improve safety
and the driving experience for Toyota’s customers.
Toyota President Akio Toyoda said: “I believe that, like Toyota,
Microsoft aims to enrich society in meaningful ways. Based on the
on-going partnership, we aim to further develop our people and enhance
our cars through the use of IT in motorsports to promote ‘ever-better
cars.'”
