"Without a Navigation System, Using Only Pace Notes"—Toyota Motor Korea Holds Its First Customer Rally in Boryeong

[Financial News] Toyota Motor Korea said on the 7th that it had successfully completed the customer-participation program 'TGR Rally Play,' held on the 5th at Ajou Motor College and across Boryeong, South Chungcheong Province.
This was Toyota Motor Korea's first rally program for the general public. A total of 69 teams, comprising 57 teams in the 'Open Class' for families and general customers and 12 teams in the 'Advanced Class' for motorsports enthusiasts, took part. Of the 181 participants, 57 teams completed the course. Over roughly four hours, participants drove about 70 kilometers around Boryeong and completed various missions by following pace notes.
The competition format was distinctive. Instead of using navigation systems, participants had to find their way using only the information in the pace notes and pass checkpoints along the route. Drivers handled the driving, while co-drivers checked the route and missions. The teams also watched for signs and structures as they proceeded, making teamwork and communication essential to finishing the course.
The program also brought motorsports and local content together. Rather than simply completing the course, participants directly experienced local attractions, including Boryeong's natural environment, cultural heritage and farms. Through driving, they discovered the area's appeal in a new way.
A drift show run, a TGR simulator and a heritage exhibition were also held at the venue. Participants and visitors were able to experience various aspects of motorsports, from rallying to gymkhana.
Participants responded enthusiastically. One participant said, "At first, I was worried about whether we could find our way by looking only at the pace notes. But as the driver and co-driver kept talking and worked through the missions one by one, I suddenly felt as if I were taking part in a real rally." A team that participated with family and friends said, "It was fun to discover new sides of Boryeong that we would normally have simply passed by."
Participants in the Advanced Class said, "In rallying, the fun came from working in sync to finish the course, while in gymkhana, we enjoyed controlling the car ourselves and challenging its limits." They added, "What impressed us most was that motorsports felt closer than we had expected and that anyone could enjoy it."
Manabu Konyama, president of Toyota Motor Korea, said, "Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) is creating better cars by driving on a variety of roads and spending time with many people, guided by the philosophy that 'roads make people, and people make cars.' Through this TGR Rally Play event, I hope participants were able to encounter Boryeong's diverse roads and new places and create special memories by sharing the joy of cars and motorsports with their families and friends."
Toyota Motor Korea is also working to expand grassroots motorsports culture that anyone can easily enjoy. Its activities include serving as the official naming sponsor of the 'Toyota Gazoo Racing 6000 Class,' the Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid (Prius PHEV) one-make race, the 'TGR Racing Class,' in which GR model owners drive on a circuit themselves, the 'TGR Kids Super Race School' for children, and the family-oriented 'TGR Experience Day.'
[email protected] Dong-chan Kim Reporter