2026 NUTAHARA Rally School Young Expert Class to be Held

Scenes from the 2024 event (Venue: Tokachi Speedway)

TGR-D (Toyota Gazoo Racing Development Co., Ltd.) will once again fully cooperate in the planning and operation of the 2026 NUTAHARA Rally School (led by Fumio Nutahara) this year, to discover and nurture young rally drivers.

Our company has been closely involved since the establishment of Japan's first rally school in 2016, founded by Japan's leading rally driver Fumio Nutahara with the aim of developing young talent and revitalizing rally competitions. In recent years, we have led the planning and operation of the "Young Expert Class" curriculum, which focuses on discovering and nurturing promising young domestic athletes, producing numerous rally drivers who are active both domestically and internationally.

This year, practical selections for publicly recruited applicants under 25 years old will be held at Fuji Speedway (Shizuoka Prefecture). Regardless of previous career, achievements, or qualifications, we will broadly and deeply evaluate talents honed through various experiences, including e-sports, not limited to actual vehicles.

* Please check the URL within the application guidelines for schedule and details.

We await the challenge of enthusiastic young people who are serious about succeeding in world rallies.

Organizer: Fumio Nutahara
Scenes from the 2024 event (Venue: Tokachi Speedway)

Scenes from the 2024 event (Venue: Rikubetsu Circuit)

Application Guidelines

* Drivers/Co-drivers welcome

* Motorsport inexperienced individuals are welcome, provided they can drive a car.

(A driver's license is not required as the event will be held on a closed course.)

* Age: Drivers under 22 / Co-drivers under 25

* Parental consent is required for minors and students.

* Participation fee is free, but travel expenses for practical selection and successful candidate training are borne by the participants.

Accommodation/food expenses (breakfast/lunch/dinner) at the training site (Hokkaido) for successful candidates will be covered by the school.

* For event overview/additional general recruitment announcements, please check the NUTAHARA RALLY SCHOOL website.

(URL: https://nutahararallyschool.com/2026youngexpertclass/)

Schedule/Event Overview

● Entry Period / Entry Notification

Entry Deadline: May 7, 2026 (Thursday) 17:00 JST

Entry Notification: Scheduled to be announced around the 4th week of May 2026 (individual contact)

● Event Dates

① Practical Selection: June 13 (Saturday) or 14 (Sunday), 2026

— Venue: Fuji Speedway (Shizuoka Prefecture)

② Successful Candidate Training: September 19 (Saturday) - 22 (Tuesday/Holiday), 2026, total 4 days

— Venue: Rikubetsu Circuit (Hokkaido)

● Organizer

TGR-D (Toyota Gazoo Racing Development Co., Ltd.)

● Leader

Fumio Nutahara

● Partner Companies (Provisional)

GAZOO Racing (Toyota Motor Corporation)

Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.

Toyota Customizing & Development Co., Ltd.

* In no particular order

Contact for this matter (NUTAHARA RALLY SCHOOL Secretariat)

Sanko Nishishinbashi Bldg., 1-19-5 Nishishinbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0003

E-mail: nutahara-rallyschool@7-seven.jp

TEL: 03-3502-7006 / FAX: 03-6206-6074 (Weekdays 10:00-18:00, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays)

TGR-D (Toyota Gazoo Racing Development Co., Ltd.)

This is a new company originating from TRD (Toyota Racing Development). As a specialized department of a group company supporting Toyota's motorsport, it has a history of approximately 60 years, utilizing the know-how inherited from its predecessors, engaging in a wide range of activities from entry-level to top categories, and continuing to challenge new eras of motorsport, providing value that meets everyone's expectations.