Tomikawa
With your many years as Toyota’s master driver, you have a good sense of how cars behave, but was that the case from the beginning?
Toyoda
No, it wasn’t.
Hiromu Naruse often reminded me that a car consists of 30,000 parts. He said, “I am a driving doctor. People call me a master driver, but I consider myself a doctor. As a doctor, it’s my job to listen to the cries of those 30,000 parts. Just as when you visit your local doctor, you start with a checkup.”
And so, when Naruse got in a car, the first thing he did was check its condition—how were those 30,000 parts doing? Which ones were out of sorts?
Recently, I’ve been racing with professional drivers at the Nürburgring and in Super Taikyu. The pro drivers have even more incredible senses. They can diagnose problems with pinpoint precision.
In my case, I can tell you the symptoms, but I wouldn’t know the name of the disease. Naruse could name the disease and write out the prescription to make things better. I think that might be why he called himself a driving doctor.
Tomikawa
And now as Morizo, you have taken up the mantle. Does that make you a doctor as well?
Toyoda
Well, I don’t know about doctor. I’m just a guy who loves cars and driving.
That said, I think I’ve gained a fair sense of when things aren’t right.
Tomikawa
And you can convey them precisely.
Toyoda
For example, at the recent 24-hour race at Fuji Speedway, I went into a spin while driving before qualifying. What did our engineers say when that happened? “No, the data doesn’t show any problems.”
On the other hand, one of the pro drivers said, “Hang on, Morizo wouldn’t spin out in that spot—there must be something to it.” He took the wheel in my place and, sure enough, noticed that one wheel wasn’t moving properly.
Tomikawa
One of the dampers was a bit out of sorts, wasn’t it?
Toyoda
Because we figured it out then and fixed it, we managed to complete the 24 hours without incident.
I think it’s fair to say that human sensors are still more finely tuned.
Though I myself am not a doctor, I have many doctors around me. When it comes to sensing what’s wrong, the gap between me and the pro drivers is closing, so if I describe the symptoms, they will understand. In that respect, we are now able to share the same cars.
In the past, the difference in my driving skills and the professionals was too large, so it was just too dangerous to share the same cars. Dangerous for both sides.
Tomikawa
Now you’re the same.
Toyoda
That’s right, and our times are similar enough that we can more or less share the same cars, and trust in the cars more as well.
Tomikawa
I see. In other words, having both master driver Morizo and the pro drivers, with their finely honed senses, perform the checkups and take care of issues together makes for ever-better carmaking. Better cars mean better quality, which is also linked to road safety.
Toyoda
Well said. The safest car is one that you can drive easily and comfortably without tiring. Whether we’re talking about motorsport or safety on ordinary roads, the best cars are stress-free to drive.
Tomikawa
When you’re tired, you lose the ability to concentrate.
Toyoda
As master driver, I would also like to add “fun to drive” into the mix.
Tomikawa
Fun, stress-free, and no accidents—that’s the ideal.
Toyoda
Then you can drive for a long time. Driving a long time without accident, that’s what safety is all about.