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Carjam: Lexus Hiromu Naruse Official Tribute Film Nurburgring Movie 2011

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Uploaded by on Feb 20, 2011

Carjam Radio Show -- A Car Show About People
Website: http://www.kclr96fm.com/presenters?id=531
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Naruse joined Toyota Motor Corporation in 1963 as a certified auto mechanic, and was initially assigned to the company's Vehicle Evaluation and Engineering Division as a temporary employee. Because he also held a level-2 abacus certificate, Naruse was also considered for a position in the Accounting division.[5] Naruse worked his way up in the company, earning a reputation as one of its top test drivers. Naruse was chief mechanic of the 1970 Toyota 7 racer
As a company mechanic, early models which Naruse worked on included the Toyota Sports 800 in 1965 and the Toyota 1600GT in 1967.[4][5] He also helped create the Toyota 2000GT in 1967, Japan's first supercar,[4] and following promotion to chief mechanic, helped produce the company's first custom-built racer, the Toyota 7, in 1970.[4] After ten years with the company, Naruse was placed in charge of motorsports development.[5]
In 1970, Naruse headed the formation of Toyota Motorsports, working in Switzerland as Toyota initiated Japan's first entry into Nürburgring and Spa-Francorchamps racing.[5] That year, he also worked as chief mechanic on the newly-introduced Toyota Celica.[5] Naruse would go on to be involved with the development of each Celica generation produced.[4] In the 1980s and 1990s, as a test driver, Naruse helped the development of the Toyota MR2 and the Toyota Supra.[5] By the late 1990s, Naruse had assumed the title of master test driver, heading Toyota's entire test driving staff.[4][5]
As master test driver, Naruse had input on multiple Toyota company products, ranging from the second generation Toyota Prius to the Toyota MR-S and the Lexus IS.[4] His final development project was the Lexus LFA supercar, which he test-drove extensively, and headed its participation in the 24 Hours Nürburgring from 2008 to 2010.[6] Naruse had suggested the LFA enter the race to obtain feedback for fine-tuning the vehicle for production.[6] In 2010, the LFA won its SP8 class at the race. Naruse led the Lexus LFA Gazoo Racing team from 2008 to 2010
During and after the LFA's Nürburgring races, Naruse continued to drive the LFA and other prototypes in Europe and elsewhere. Although nearly 70 years old, he remained active in test driving, and also tackled hillside roads on weekends in Japan.[4] He remained aware of the risks and rewards, stating that:
" When we raced the LFA in Nardo, Italy, I thought I might not return to Japan alive. The purpose of this 'test' was to evaluate the car's durability at 200 mph for a long period. The race was in the dark with no lights on the track, plus there were birds flying at me. And imagine if a tire burst. We created the final LFA through these kinds of test experiences. "
—Hiromu Naruse, early 2010[8]
By the late 2000s, Naruse was advocating the development of an inexpensive rear-wheel drive coupe for driving enthusiasts.[9] This would later be considered by Toyota in hatchback form to honor Naruse's legacy.

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  • RIP Hiromu

    You are a true legend in sports car development

    Thank you!

  • @niwasan20

    Can you stop being a jackass for two seconds?

    Or are you on the clock?

  • toyota killed him

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