Making its debut as the official pace car at the 2022 NASA Championships at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, the pulse-quickening GR Corolla will again pace the field for the NASA National Championships in 2024. Built for driving enthusiasts who crave high performance, the Toyota GR Corolla boasts rally-inspired origins, a formidable 300 horsepower turbocharged three-cylinder and GR-FOUR All-Wheel Drive. It has become a favorite of sports car enthusiasts everywhere.
This year’s prestigious event will take place September 5-8, 2024, at Utah Motorsports Campus in Grantsville, Utah. The track-focused GR Corolla MORIZO Edition will continue its role as the official pace car, adorned in its Toyota GAZOO Racing red, white, and black graphics livery. The NASA National Championships, the organization’s marquee event, will feature NASA race drivers from 14 regions across the United States competing for the top prize, culminating in the winner-take-all championship finals on Sunday.
“At Toyota, we have a passion for performance and motorsports, and it’s an honor to support racing enthusiasts by pacing all NASA Championship races,” said Mike Tripp, Group Vice President Toyota Marketing. “For four years running, we’ve had a GR sports car serve as pace car for these championships, and we’re thrilled to see the GR Corolla lead the pack once more in 2024.”
At the 2024 NASA Championships, the GR Corolla will pace some 275 drivers. The 3.048-mile, Utah Motorsports Campus Outer Course presents a challenging, 15-turn layout over several elevation changes that rewards technical driving skill, promising a thrilling competition for drivers, and an edge-of-the-seat viewing opportunity for spectators.
The pace car role is just one way Toyota GAZOO Racing is connecting with the enthusiast community. As part of a partnership between Toyota and NASA, every customer who buys a new GR sports car automatically receives a complimentary one-year NASA membership, including one complimentary track day at a NASA High Performance Driving Event.
“The relationship between Toyota and NASA has been an incredible way to introduce sports car owners to the world of performance driving in a safe and responsible manner,” said Jeremy Croiset, Chief Executive Officer of NASA. “We’re thrilled to have the GR Corolla as the official NASA Championships pace car once again, and we anticipate a lot of exciting races at Utah Motorsports Campus. Those who can’t attend in person can tune in on www.DriveNASA.com to witness some of the best amateur racing in the country.”
Due in Toyota showrooms this winter, 2025 GR Corolla will feature several performance changes inside and out, that deliver on Akio Toyoda’s challenge to pursue “untamed energy” in this latest version of the hot hatch.
One of the most significant new features is the availability of an available 8-speed GAZOO Racing Direct Automatic Transmission (DAT) that delivers lightning-fast shift performance and optimal gear selection.
The heartbeat of the 2025 GR Corolla continues to pound with its incomparable turbocharged G16E-GTS 1.6-liter 3-cylinder turbo engine, that delivers 300 horsepower, but for MY25, torque has been increased to 295 pound-feet, a nearly 10 percent increase from the previous model year. This exceptional 1.6-liter powerplant is coupled with Toyota’s rally-inspired GR-FOUR AWD system, allowing drivers to choose from three power distribution settings: 60-40, 50-50, or 30-70 between the front and rear wheels.
Additional performance enhancements include Front and rear Torsen® limited-slip differentials that offer improved cornering performance and grip, with control of left and right-hand drive torque distribution on the front and rear axles; launch control adopted on DAT models to help enable powerful, off the line acceleration; suspension enhancements that boost ground contact response and cornering, and a redesigned front bumper to improve cooling and aerodynamics.
The 2025, GR Corolla will be available in three grades: the well-equipped Core Grade, the impressive Premium Grade and the aggressive, all-new, Premium Plus Grade. This new Premium Plus grade adds standard features that enthusiasts have come to know and love on previous special editions like the carbon fiber roof, the beloved vented bulge hood and matte black wheels.
For additional press materials about the GR Corolla, please visit the Toyota USA Newsroom.
