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Toyota City, Japan, June 1, 2015 - (JCN Newswire) - TOYOTA GAZOO Racing is proud to learn that former Team President Yoshiaki Kinoshita has been awarded the prestigious Spirit of Le Mans Award by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO).
 | | Yoshiaki Kinoshita Handed Le Mans Honour |
The ACO announced the award today, adding Kinoshita san to a list of endurance racing's elite which includes Dr Wolfgang Ullrich, Gerard Larousse and Henri Pescarolo. It has been awarded since 2001 to participants who have epitomized the spirit of the Le Mans 24 Hours.
Kinoshita san's association with Le Mans dates back to the 1990s when he was an engineer on the TS010. More recently, he was a driving force behind TOYOTA's return to Le Mans in 2012, when the Japanese manufacturer made its World Endurance Championship debut at La Sarthe that year.
His time as Team President culminated in TOYOTA winning the 2014 manufacturers' World Championship alongside the drivers' crown won by Anthony Davidson and Sebastien Buemi. In April this year he began a new assignment at TOYOTA TECHNOCRAFT Co. Ltd. in Japan.
He was succeeded as Team President by Toshio Sato who joined the whole team in saluting Kinoshita san's immense contribution to TOYOTA's motorsport heritage and the spirit of Le Mans.
Toshio Sato, Team President: "This team would not be where we are today - preparing for the 83rd Le Mans 24 Hours as reigning World Champions - without Kinoshita san's efforts. I have always been impressed by his passion for endurance racing, and particularly Le Mans; he is a true racer. This award is very well deserved and I thank the ACO for honouring Kinoshita san in this way. On behalf of everyone in the team I offer our sincere congratulations to him and we look forward to seeing him here in Le Mans during race week."
Contact:
Toyota Motor Corporation
Public Affairs Division
Global Communications Department
Tel: +81-3-3817-9926
Topic: Press release summary
Source: Toyota Motor Corporation
Sectors: Automotive
https://www.acnnewswire.com
From the Asia Corporate News Network
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