This summer, Chennaiites can gear up for some fun-filled motor sport training, thanks to car major Toyota Kirloskar Motor.
Toyota, through its Etios Motor Racing (EMR) programme, has decided to train talented young racers develop their motor sports skills.
For this purpose, the company has just brought its Etios range of racing cars to Chennai.
“Globally, Toyota’s commitment to motor sports extends to the grassroots level and through Etios Motor Racing in India we aim to do the same by identifying and training young racing aspirants,” said Mr. Sandeep Singh, TKM deputy managing director — marketing.
For its driver selection programme, the company issued online applications about a month back that saw a whopping 3,303-registrations.
“We will be conducting rigorous tests to choose the best 25 drivers from these for our exhibition races this year and the series next year,” Mr Singh said. EMR camps will be held in Pune, Delhi, Kolkata and Bangalore.
Apart from being trained by professional drivers and instructors from Toyota and local car racing experts, the selected applicants will also get to drive Etios motor racing cars.
The study material will be a combination of what is used in Japan and required by FMSCI to ensure the drivers are trained to international standards, the company claimed.
Through this series, Toyota hopes to highlight not only the technological prowess of its EMR concept cars, but also reach out to younger customers. In fact, TKM expects the initiative to fetch some additional sales for its Etios brand. The company sold 60,000 units of Etios sedan and Liva in 2011 and hopes to take it to 80,000 units this year.