 | |
| Industry | Automobile tuning & parts manufacturer for street and motorsports |
|---|---|
| Founded | February 20, 1974; 51 years ago (1974-02-20) |
| Founder | Nobuhide Tachi |
| Headquarters | , Japan |
Key people | Isao Tanimoto (President and Representative Director) |
| Products | Automobile tuning and racing products |
| Website | global |
TOM'S Inc. (株式会社トムス,Kabushiki-gaisha Tomusu) is an automotiveaftermarket parts manufacturer and tuner ofToyota andLexus vehicles, as well as afactory-backed racing team. The TOM'S head office is located inTokyo,Japan.[1][2]
TOM'S most prominently produces aftermarket parts for current Toyota vehicles, and has also created its own special edition of certain current Lexus models.[3][4]
In motorsport, the company is currently heavily involved withSuper GT,Super Formula andSuper Formula Lights.[5][6] TOM'S Racing has won theJapanese Formula 3 Championship 21 times, theSuper GT series ten times, the Super Formula Championship four times, and the Super Formula Lights series three times.
The name stands forTachiOiwaMotorSport, as the company was established in 1974 byNobuhide Tachi and Kiyoshi Oiwa.[7] Despite an oil crisis at the time, the two were able to show productive results and a healthy development of motorsports for Toyota.[8] With the support of Toyota, TOM'S went into business in 1974.[8][9]
In 1975 the Toyota Motor Corporation officially recognized TOM'S as an authorized tuning shop.[8] In 1978, the firm opened a garage in theTama area ofTokyo.[8] TOM'S entered the Japanese Formula 3 as an engine tuner in 1981.
In 1987, TOM'S expanded to Hingham inNorfolk, England, setting up as TOM'S GB LIMITED.[8] The factory initially housed the TOM'S engine shops and Waters's Formula 3 team before expanding to running the Sportscar Wold Championship and BTCC programs. in 1992 TOM'S attempted to lure Toyota into F1 by embarking on a Formula 1 feasibility study which included the establishment of a 40,000 sq. ft. R&D center. The design of the R&D center was overseen by John Barnard and a TOM'S F1 car was designed (dubbed the 011F) but never built[1]. After Toyota rejected the idea of a Formula 1 entry, TOM'S sold the Norfolk factory to Volkswagen in 1998 and left the European market .[10]
In 1993, TOM'S produced vehicles for theJapanese Formula 3000.[8] In 1994, the firm marked its 20th anniversary with "TOM'S Angel T01", a commemorative model.[8] 1995 saw the lightweight sports car series T101, T082, and T020.[8] In 2003, TOM'S modified vehicles entered the All Japan F3 Championship group of theAll Japan GT Championship.[8]
Toyota Blade
Also the aero work done to the number 36Castrol TOM'S SUPRA (1997 GTC 500 Champion withMichael Krumm andPedro de la Rosa).[19]
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In addition to aftermarket tuning and parts, TOM'S Racing has a long history in motorsport. Since its founding in 1974, TOM'S has continuously stayed involved in automotive racing, as a tuning partner, engine supplier, or racing team, especially with Toyota factory-backed racing teams.[2]
TOM'S Racing had a large involvement and repeated success in theSuper Formula Lights (originallyJapanese Formula 3 Championship; name changed after FIA nomenclature regulations and the promoters changed toEuroformula Open Championship standards).
They won the championship a record 24 times: in 1987, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999,2001,2003,2005,2006,2007,2008,2009,2010,2013,2014,2015,2016,2018, and after the FIA-mandated rebranding, in2020,2021, and2022.[2]
TOM'S Racing has been consistently involved in theSuper GT racing series, the top level of Japanesesports car racing, since 1995 when it was called theAll Japan Grand Touring Car Championship (JGTC). The team has raced both Toyota and Lexussilhouette cars.
TOM'S has won the GT500 Class Championship eleven times: in1997,1999,2006,2008,2009,2017,2019,2021,2023,2024 and2025.[2][20][21][22]
From1985 until1993, TOM'S competed in the24 Hours of LeMans, with a best result of 2nd place in1992 with aToyota TS010.[2]
TOM'S raced in theAll Japan Sports Prototype Championship inGroup C, winning a championship in1992.[2]
With the second-mostteam wins in history, TOM'S has won theMacau Grand Prix five times: in1992,1998,1999,2007, and2008.[2]
TOM'S won theJapanese Touring Car Championship in1994 with aToyota Corona E, and in1997 with aToyota Chaser.[2]
In the top level of Japanese single-seater racing, theSuper Formula Championship, TOM'S has won the championship four times: in2011,2012,2014, and2019.[23]
(key) (Races inbold indicate pole position) (Races initalics indicate fastest lap)
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