Whereas Akio Toyoda could have some controversial opinions about electrical automobiles, there’s no denying that he’s a real automotive fanatic who loves driving. He additionally occurs to be very helpful behind the wheel.

Toyoda has various racing expertise and has even competed on the 24 Hours of Nurburgring. Had been it not for him, vehicles just like the GR Yaris, arguably the recent hatch of the second, may need not existed and the Japanese automaker wouldn’t be as centered on motorsport as it’s.

Learn Extra: Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Previewed For WRC With Large Facet Intakes

Earlier this month, Toyoda was concerned in a promotional occasion in Tokyo the place it previewed its new WRC automotive and introduced its full motorsport plans for the 2022 calendar yr. Jari-Matti Latvala will function the group principal for Toyota’s WRC group and he jumped behind the wheel of the brand new GR Yaris Rally1 WRC automotive, performing some critically spectacular donuts within the all-wheel drive rally automotive.

Quickly after, Toyoda joined in on the motion, drifting a road-going GR Yaris outfitted with numerous rally-inspired components round a set of cones. At one stage, Toyoda will be seen waving considered one of his fingers out of the window whereas doing donuts, displaying simply how a lot automotive management he has.

Akio Toyoda has served because the president of Toyota since mid-2009 and whereas he has served the corporate effectively, he has come underneath hearth from some in latest months by lobbying to delay the market’s transition to electrical automobiles on account of his perception that hydrogen-powered vehicles must be the longer term.