Registrations now open for annual TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Festival

The annual get together between Toyota owners and Toyota New Zealand – known as the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Festival – will return to the South Island and Highlands Motorsport Park on 15 and 16 March.

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Festival is a celebration of Toyota customers and cars of all shapes, sizes and ages. It provides a unique chance to mix and mingle with other Toyota fans, share stories, get your Toyota out onto a racing track, test your skills on a full day 4X4 Trek and get close to awesome Toyota history.

Visitors will see all manner of Toyota history on display and on the racetrack. There is likely to be a wide range of classic and new Toyota coupes and sports cars such as AE86s, GT Starlets, old SR Corollas and new GR Corollas, new and old Supras, fully modified 1JZ engines and factory original Crowns.

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Vice President Andrew Davis says Toyota owners love their cars, and Toyota loves to support the Toyota community with the annual Festival.

“We really enjoy putting on this event every year. It’s one way to say thank you to our loyal fans, have some fun together and provide something a little bit special for our Toyota family,” he says.

Registrations for the two-day Festival are now open. Andrew says if you want to participate and book a slot on the racetrack or in the nearby 4×4 Trek Experience, registering early is imperative.

“There will be a range of on and off-track events, some of which need to be booked. This year we are offering an exclusive Track Experience – a full day of track activity including sessions on the racetrack, a thrilling gymkhana course and expert advice.”

The Exclusive Highlands Track Experience will be on Saturday 15 March and will include instruction and feedback from professional drivers. Each participant, driving their own Toyota, will have two 15 minute follow the leader sessions on the A+C circuit and another two 15-minute sessions on the full circuit. The Exclusive Highlands Track Experience, ‘Track Plus’, will be limited and costs $299 per person.

For Toyota owners who prefer to show their car, there will be the annual Show and Shine Competition. Any Toyota or Lexus can be entered whether they are high tuned track weapons or impeccably detailed rebuilds of Toyota classics. Categories will be based on age and prizes are on offer for Best Original, Best Engine Bay, Best Interior and the ever-popular People’s Choice award.

Whether you are participating in track activities or not, all Toyota and Lexus vehicles will also be invited to take part in the Toyota Parade Lap, led gently by the pace car, and then pose for the annual Main Straight Photo. The parade lap starts at midday on Saturday.

While there will be plenty of cool old Toyotas on display, static or rolling, there will also be a range of new Toyota vehicles on view, including the latest iterations of the awesome GR Yaris, GR Corolla and the limited edition GR86 Hakone.

For more information and to register please visit: Toyota GR Festival 2025 – Toyota NZ