Toyota Boss: Racing Creates Better Cars and Closer Customer Connections

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Akio Toyoda wants to race. The 53-year-old, who took the helm of the world's largest automaker this week, believes track time at the Nürburgring puts him "closest to a regular customer," Automotive News reports.

In May, Toyoda piloted a Lexus LF-A prototype in the ADAC 24h Rennen Nürburgring under the alias "Morizo."

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"There's a reason why I participate in these races," Toyoda said at a conference on Thursday, "First, it's because it's Nürburgring. Second, it's 24 hours. And third, it has a lot to do with the development of cars."

Toyoda is a major driving force behind the 500-hp LF-A, which, after appearing at the Detroit auto show in 2005, is set for production in mid-2010. Still, Toyoda holds no professional racing experience, and many inside Toyota would like him off the track for safety.

"The folks here are pleading with me to stop," Toyoda said, "Put another way, you can say that I'm staking my life to come up with a better product."

Source: Automotive News