Television host Rutledge Wood is trading in his microphone for a steering wheel, as the longtime Team Toyota ambassador is scheduled to compete in four race weekends in Toyota GAZOO Racing North America’s (TGRNA) GR Cup Series during the 2025 season. He will drive the No. 18 Fun Times Soda Pop Toyota GR86 for Precision Racing LA.
The former Top Gear USA and Floor Is Lava host will compete in GR Cup Series weekends at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, in April; Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, in August; Barber Motorsports Park in Leeds, Alabama, in September; and the road course at the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway in October. Wood is scheduled to compete in two races each weekend as part of Precision Racing LA’s multi-car effort. The team, which also competes with the Toyota GR Supra GT4, has participated in the Toyota GR Cup series since its infancy.
“I couldn’t be more excited to jump into the driver’s seat and join the Toyota GR Cup Series for four race weekends in 2025," said Rutledge Wood. "Cars have always been a huge part of my life, and having the opportunity to have some fun in the incredible Toyota GR86 is a dream come true. I need to give a huge thank you to Mario (Biundo, president and team principal, Precision Racing LA) and his team at Precision Racing LA for helping start the idea around this program, and everyone at Toyota for making it happen. I had the privilege of racing in the Toyota Pro Celebrity event years ago and can’t wait to get behind the wheel in this incredible series as well.”
The Toyota GR Cup provides amateur drivers and teams the opportunity to compete at some of the most iconic racing venues in North America, while providing Toyota engineers with real world data to support the design of future vehicles. The 2025 championship will feature a 14-race schedule at seven exciting circuits across the United States. Toyota will once again be offering one million dollars in purse and prizes thanks to several great partners that have teamed with TGRNA.
The series presents a possible next leap in the performance-driving progression for GR owners who take advantage of the complimentary one-year National Auto Sport Association® (NASA) membership that comes with the purchase of any GR sports car. The program also includes one complimentary track day at a NASA® High Performance Driving Event, giving GR owners performance driving experiences under the tutelage of expert instructors.
The Toyota GR Cup series has quickly garnered attention for its thrilling competition and unique format, with up-and-coming drivers as well as other big names entering races in the series, which is now heading into its third season.
"Rutledge has been a great friend of Toyota and has an undeniable passion for cars and for racing," said Paul Doleshal, group manager, motorsports, Toyota Motor North America. "We’re looking forward to seeing Rutledge on the track this season and can’t wait for fans to see what he can do behind the wheel."
2025 GR Cup Series Calendar
· Sonoma Raceway (Sonoma, CA): March 28-30
· Circuit of The Americas (Austin, TX): April 25-27
· Sebring International Raceway (Sebring, FL): May 16-18
· VIRginia International Raceway (Alton, VA): July 18-20
· Road America (Elkhart Lake, WI): August 15-17
· Barber Motorsports Park (Leeds, AL): September 5-7
· Indianapolis Motor Speedway (Indianapolis, IN): October 17-19
*Rutledge Wood race weekends in bold
###
About Toyota Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for nearly 70 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships.
Toyota directly employs nearly 64,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 49 million cars and trucks at our 14 manufacturing plants. In spring 2025, Toyota’s plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, Toyota currently offers 32 electrified options.
For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.
Media Contacts:
Toyota GAZOO Racing PR Contacts:
Cody Poor, Golin for Toyota GAZOO Racing
323-578-7159 cpoor@golin.com
Pam Jansen, Golin for Toyota GAZOO Racing
386-631-2489 pjansen@golin.com
Cooper Robinson, Golin for Toyota GAZOO Racing
213-713-2163 crobinson@golin.com
Toyota PR Contact:
Sam Mahoney
980-900-8573 Samuel.Mahoney@toyota.com