Any writer who uses the old “like a go-kart” trope to describe the Gazoo-breathed-on GR Corolla and GR Yaris models (if not others) can be forgiven, but it may be time to retire the old saw now that there’s an actual Gazoo Racing go-kart, ready to give you the experience of donut-sized-wheel-to-donut-sized-wheel racing with a machine that fits in a minivan – if you live in Japan, that is.
With Gazoo Racing behind the new machine, I was expecting a premium-spec (and premium-priced) maximum-performance kart. But that’s not what Gazoo Racing is going for here. There’s a more noble mission in mind with the GR Kart project.
From the ToyotaRacing.com press release:
Racing karts offer the thrill of controlling a vehicle hands-on. But hurdles such as kart costs, transportation, storage, and maintenance await those who want to get into karting. By offering a price point and system for the GR KART that makes competing easier, GR aims to make direct involvement in motorsports possible for more people.
GR Kart launched today at kart tracks and GR Garage locations in Japan with the goal of “broaden[ing] hands-on access to motorsports for children and families.” According to GR, the program represents Toyota Chairman Akio “Morizo” Toyoda’s long-held “desire for motorsports to be an activity more people can take up, like baseball or soccer.”
A fine goal indeed, and karting is a great entry to motorsports. Lest anyone think GR is merely slapping logos onto an existing kart, you’ll be glad to know the GR Kart has been designed specifically to spread the go-kart gospel:
As a “carmaker-made kart,” each GR KART is carefully crafted, incorporating experience and ingenuity honed through Toyota automotive manufacturing. Gamagori GR KART Workshop, Gamagori, Aichi Prefecture, produces the GR KART, and the workshop’s small scale makes it ideal for tackling challenges and quickly testing innovative ideas and technologies. Guided by Toyota Production System (TPS) principles, the workshop is committed to ensuring quality and continuously improving its manufacturing processes. Through these initiatives, GR is working to reduce costs and aims to create products that make it easier for newcomers to start and continue karting.
The GR Kart has these features, as described by GR:
- [Low] pricing for ease of starting and continuing
- Packaging that fits in a family minivan and can be stored upright
- Driving position adjustment mechanisms that allow everyone from children to adults to share the same kart
- A design that minimizes the hassle of maintenance and preparation, allowing focus on driving
- Durability for long-term use and a safety design tailored to beginners
I’m sure we can all get behind those, and they’ll undoubtedly make it easier for folks to get into karting – but I want to see some cool stuff. So let’s move in for a closer look …
The throttle and brake pedals look a lot more substantial than what I expect of a go-kart, with plenty of room to accommodate adult-sized feet. I also like the way the side brackets are curved, presumably to help prevent the driver’s feet from sliding off the controls.
The pedal assembly can be slid fore and aft to suit the driver’s height. Note the hydraulic cylinder for the brake; we’ll get a look at the caliper and rotor a little farther down.
The steering wheel position is also adjustable to fit a wide range of driver heights. According to GR, the kart is sized for drivers 4′ 5″ to six feet tall.
At the business end, belt drive replaces the expected chain and sprocket, eliminating messy chain lube. Belt tension is self-adjusting. Note the carbon-fiber shield that helps protect drivers and handlers from accidentally touching hot engine parts.
A single-piston caliper puts the squeeze on a drilled rotor. Since the axle is live, only one brake is required to apply stopping force to both rear tires. GR notes the axle is stainless steel to resist rust.
The engine is an overhead-valve single-cylinder displacing 215cc, but GR is otherwise tight-lipped on the specs.
The rear bumper is designed to prevent other karts from riding up onto a rear tire in the event of a collision, says GR.
If you want sponsor decals on there, you’re gonna need to knock on some doors, kids.
A minivan is all you need to get your GR Kart to and from the track, with no disassembly required. GR calls out the Toyota Noah and Voxy vans as capable kart haulers. Will it fit in a Honda Odyssey? How dare you.
Storing the kart vertically minimizes the garage space required between race days. “But what about the …” Settle down, GR has it covered:
An upright-storage-compatible engine oil catch tank, a float-chamber-free diaphragm carburetor, and a fuel filler opening orientation that minimizes fuel leaks even when the kart is upright make upright storage possible without first draining the kart’s gasoline and engine oil.
So, no problemo with the vertical storage.
In addition to all that good stuff above, GR supports its karting initiative with an app to guide wannabe racers from merely dreaming about karting all the way to the finish line.
The “GR app”, as a dedicated app for the GR KART, is available, providing support from pre-purchase learning to post-purchase driving. The app includes information on the GR KART and instructional content to build the knowledge needed to drive. Users can register on the app to obtain and manage a driver’s passport, which serves as proof of eligibility to engage in sports driving with a GR KART at participating kart tracks.
There are currently 36 tracks participating in the GR Kart program across Japan, so there’s plenty of opportunity to get in on the fun if you’re on the island. And the cost? A GR Kart will set you back 385,00 yen, or about $2,500 dollars – that sounds like a real value to me, given my shopping search results for “competition g-kart” revealed prices starting at roughly double that price and going up from there.
I should move to Japan.
Top graphic and story images: Gazoo Racing
