Microsoft and Toyota Join Forces in FIA World Rally Championship

Toyota recently announced that it has reached an agreement with Microsoft to collaborate in the 2017 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) series. As part of the agreement, Microsoft will serve as a ‘technology partner’ for the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing WRC rally team. Motorsports offer an important way to convey the excitement of driving, and are at the heart of Toyota’s efforts to foster a greater following of car fans and enthusiasts. Conducting these activities under the umbrella of TOYOTA GAZOO Racing allows Toyota to develop its people and improve its products, thereby contributing to the creation of ‘ever-better cars’. Under the leadership of Team Principal Tommi M?kinen, Toyota is developing a rally vehicle scheduled to begin competing in 2017. Using Microsoft technology, Toyota wants to maximize its competitiveness in WRC, whilst ensuring that learnings from the race course can be used to achieve the company’s vision of designing and manufacturing ‘ever-better cars’. Microsoft will support TOYOTA GAZOO Racing in three key areas:

• Development of a data analysis platform to gather, visualize and analyse various data related to driving which will be utilized in race activities.
• Creation of a team information-sharing system to allow team members to collaborate and share various materials such as images and videos efficiently and effectively using a cloud service.
• Enhancement of communication with fans through providing services utilizing the cloud and using Microsoft’s display devices to provide them with a front-row motorsports experience.