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Press Release

Jul. 09, 2014

Drift Champion Kawabata to Perform at Opening Event Toyo to be Exclusive Supporter of “TOYOTA ONE MAKE RACE”

Osaka, Japan - 9 July, 2014 - Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd. (Akira Nobuki, president) announces that for the second consecutive year, the company’s Thailand sales subsidiary Toyo Tire (Thailand) Co., Ltd. (“TTT”; Kanji Kasai, president) will be the exclusive tire supplier for the Toyota One Make Race (Sponsor: Toyota Motor Thailand Co., Ltd.) held in Thailand from July 12 in active support for this motorsport event. 

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Many car makers from Japan, Europe and the U.S. have expanded into Thailand, and accompanying the development of the auto industry there interest in motorsports has grown, including a newly established full-fledged international circuit. Last year’s six-event Toyota One Make Race generated considerable excitement, attracting upwards of 540,000 fans to the racing venues and some 28.2 million television viewers. 

For the second consecutive year, TTT will be the exclusive supplier of tires used at the races, and will provide full-fledged support of this event, which will boost the general public’s interest in and passion for cars.

Additionally, at the opening event on July 12 Toyo-supported competitive drift driver Masato Kawabata (2013 D1 Grand Prix Series Champion) will perform a drift driving exhibition in Phuket featuring the Toyota 86. Paired together with Kiki Sa Nana, a racer who is enormously popular in Thailand, this performance by the top drivers from Japan and Thailand will kick off the excitement of the opening event. 

■Toyo Tires “Proxes”
The Proxes series tire that is supplied to Toyota One Make Race is Toyo’s global brand ultra-high performance tire. This tire delivers a superior driving performance that combines straight-line stability at high speeds with stable cornering, and is also highly regarded in the Thai market for its stable driving in wet conditions.

■Schedule (tentative)
 ROUND1 Phuket 7/12-7/13
ROUND2 Nakhon Ratchasima 8/23-8/24
ROUND3 Chiang Mai 9/20-9/21
ROUND4 Buriram 10/4-10/5
ROUND5 Chonburi 12/10-12/14

 

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Toyo Tire Corporation
Corporate Communications Dept.
Hyogo Head office Telephone: +81-72-789-9100 Facsimile: +81-72-773-3272