Hiromu Naruse
Encyclopedia
Hiromu Naruse (1944 - 23 June 2010) was the Japanese
chief test driver
, chief test engineer
of Toyota Motor Corporation
and chief of the Gazoo Racing team. Naruse had been a test driver for the Toyota team for 47 years (1963 to 2010). He was also noted as the chief test driver of the Lexus LFA
supercar. During his time at Toyota, Naruse became known by the nickname "Meister", and colleagues at Ferrari
called him the "man who knows all the world’s roads." Naruse also logged more hours at the Nürburgring
test track in Germany than any other Japanese driver.
, 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. Naruse worked his way up in the company, earning a reputation as one of its top test drivers.
As a company mechanic, early models which Naruse worked on included the Toyota Sports 800
in 1965 and the Toyota 1600GT in 1967. He also helped create the Toyota 2000GT
in 1967, Japan's first supercar, and following promotion to chief mechanic, helped produce the company's first custom-built racer, the Toyota 7
, in 1970. After ten years with the company, Naruse was placed in charge of motorsports development.
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. That year, he also worked as chief mechanic on the newly-introduced Toyota Celica
. Naruse would go on to be involved with the development of each Celica generation produced. In the 1980s and 1990s, as a test driver, Naruse helped the development of the Toyota MR2
and the Toyota Supra
. By the late 1990s, Naruse had assumed the title of master test driver, heading Toyota's entire test driving staff.
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
. 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. Naruse had suggested the LFA enter the race to obtain feedback for fine-tuning the vehicle for production. In 2010, the LFA won its SP8 class at the race.
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. He remained aware of the risks and rewards, stating that:
By the late 2000s, Naruse was advocating the development of an inexpensive rear-wheel drive coupe for driving enthusiasts. This would later be considered by Toyota in hatchback form to honor Naruse's legacy.
Nürburgring Edition prototype
worth 1.5 million euros, frontally into a BMW production car near the Nürburgring
, Germany
. Both cars were a total loss. He was 66.
The LFA veered into oncoming traffic, colliding head-on with a BMW 3 series on the L94 road at Boos
, near the Nürburgring. The BMW was also a test vehicle, both occupants were injured, one is reportedly still in critical condition. All three test drivers wore helmets. The left hand drive Lexus had been photographed previously with a driver wearing a white helmet.
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
chief test driver
Test driver
In motor sports it is common to have one or more test drivers that work with the mechanics to help develop the vehicle by testing new systems on the track.-NASCAR:...
, chief test engineer
Test Engineer
A hardware test engineer is a professional who determines how to create a process that would test a particular product in manufacturing, quality assurance or related area like RMA department, in order to assure that the product meets applicable specifications...
of Toyota Motor Corporation
Toyota Motor Corporation
, , , commonly known simply as Toyota and abbreviated as TMC, is a multinational automaker headquartered in Toyota, Aichi, Japan. In 2010, Toyota Motor Corporation employed 317,734 people worldwide, and was the world's largest automobile manufacturer by production.The company was founded by...
and chief of the Gazoo Racing team. Naruse had been a test driver for the Toyota team for 47 years (1963 to 2010). He was also noted as the chief test driver of the Lexus LFA
Lexus LFA
The Lexus LFA is a 2-seat exotic sports coupe produced by Lexus as a concept car, "halo" vehicle, racing prototype, and production model. It is the second model in the F marque line of performance vehicles from Lexus, following the IS F...
supercar. During his time at Toyota, Naruse became known by the nickname "Meister", and colleagues at Ferrari
Ferrari
Ferrari S.p.A. is an Italian sports car manufacturer based in Maranello, Italy. Founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1929, as Scuderia Ferrari, the company sponsored drivers and manufactured race cars before moving into production of street-legal vehicles as Ferrari S.p.A. in 1947...
called him the "man who knows all the world’s roads." Naruse also logged more hours at the Nürburgring
Nürburgring
The Nürburgring is a motorsport complex around the village of Nürburg, Germany. It features a modern Grand Prix race track built in 1984, and a much longer old North loop track which was built in the 1920s around the village and medieval castle of Nürburg in the Eifel mountains. It is located about...
test track in Germany than any other Japanese driver.
Career
Naruse joined Toyota Motor Corporation in 1963 as a certified auto mechanicAuto mechanic
An auto mechanic is a mechanic with a variety of car makes or either in a specific area or in a specific make of car. In repairing cars, their main role is to diagnose the problem accurately and quickly...
, 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
Abacus
The abacus, also called a counting frame, is a calculating tool used primarily in parts of Asia for performing arithmetic processes. Today, abaci are often constructed as a bamboo frame with beads sliding on wires, but originally they were beans or stones moved in grooves in sand or on tablets of...
certificate, Naruse was also considered for a position in the Accounting division. Naruse worked his way up in the company, earning a reputation as one of its top test drivers.
As a company mechanic, early models which Naruse worked on included the Toyota Sports 800
Toyota Sports 800
The Toyota Sports 800 was Toyota Motor Corporation's first production sports car. The prototype for the Sports 800, called the Toyota Publica Sports, debuted at the 1962 Tokyo Auto Show, featuring a space age sliding canopy and utilizing the power train of the Toyota Publica 700, a Japanese market...
in 1965 and the Toyota 1600GT in 1967. He also helped create the Toyota 2000GT
Toyota 2000GT
The Toyota 2000GT is a limited-production, front-engine, rear-wheel drive, two-seat, hardtop coupé grand tourer designed by Toyota in collaboration with Yamaha. First displayed to the public at the Tokyo Motor Show in 1965, the 2000GT was manufactured under contract by Yamaha between 1967 and...
in 1967, Japan's first supercar, and following promotion to chief mechanic, helped produce the company's first custom-built racer, the Toyota 7
Toyota 7
The Toyota 7 was a racing car developed by Toyota Motor Company and subsidiary Yamaha Motor Corporation. Designed primarily for use in the Japanese Grand Prix, the cars were Toyota's first custom-built racing car, competing under the FIA's Group 7 rules, similar to the Can Am series in North...
, in 1970. After ten years with the company, Naruse was placed in charge of motorsports development.
In 1970, Naruse headed the formation of Toyota Motorsports, working in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
as Toyota initiated Japan's first entry into Nürburgring
Nürburgring
The Nürburgring is a motorsport complex around the village of Nürburg, Germany. It features a modern Grand Prix race track built in 1984, and a much longer old North loop track which was built in the 1920s around the village and medieval castle of Nürburg in the Eifel mountains. It is located about...
and Spa-Francorchamps racing. That year, he also worked as chief mechanic on the newly-introduced Toyota Celica
Toyota Celica
The Toyota Celica name has been applied to a series of coupes made by the Japanese company Toyota. The name is ultimately derived from the Latin word coelica meaning "heavenly" or "celestial"....
. Naruse would go on to be involved with the development of each Celica generation produced. In the 1980s and 1990s, as a test driver, Naruse helped the development of the Toyota MR2
Toyota MR2
The Toyota MR2 is a two-seat, mid-engined, rear wheel drive sports car produced by Central Motors, a part of Toyota, from 1984 until July 2007 when production stopped in Japan...
and the Toyota Supra
Toyota Supra
The Toyota Supra is a sports car/grand tourer that was produced by Toyota Motor Company from 1979 to 2002. The styling of the Toyota Supra was derived from the Toyota Celica, but it was both longer and wider. Starting in mid-1986, the Supra became its own model and was no longer based on the Celica...
. By the late 1990s, Naruse had assumed the title of master test driver, heading Toyota's entire test driving staff.
As master test driver, Naruse had input on multiple Toyota company products, ranging from the second generation Toyota Prius
Toyota Prius
The Toyota Prius is a full hybrid electric mid-size hatchback, formerly a compact sedan developed and manufactured by the Toyota Motor Corporation...
to the Toyota MR-S and the Lexus IS
Lexus IS
The Lexus IS is a series of entry-level luxury cars / compact executive cars sold by Lexus since 1998. The IS was introduced as an entry-level sport model slotted below the ES in the Lexus lineup...
. His final development project was the Lexus LFA supercar, which he test-drove extensively, and headed its participation in the 24 Hours Nürburgring
24 Hours Nürburgring
The 24 Hours Nürburgring is a touring car and GT endurance racing event on the Nürburgring Nordschleife . With a lap length of over , it allows the participation of more than 200 cars, and over 700 drivers.-Overview:...
from 2008 to 2010. Naruse had suggested the LFA enter the race to obtain feedback for fine-tuning the vehicle for production. In 2010, the LFA won its SP8 class at the race.
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. He remained aware of the risks and rewards, stating that:
By the late 2000s, Naruse was advocating the development of an inexpensive rear-wheel drive coupe for driving enthusiasts. This would later be considered by Toyota in hatchback form to honor Naruse's legacy.
Death
On Wednesday afternoon, June 23 2010, Naruse crashed his Lexus LFALexus LFA
The Lexus LFA is a 2-seat exotic sports coupe produced by Lexus as a concept car, "halo" vehicle, racing prototype, and production model. It is the second model in the F marque line of performance vehicles from Lexus, following the IS F...
Nürburgring Edition prototype
Prototype
A prototype is an early sample or model built to test a concept or process or to act as a thing to be replicated or learned from.The word prototype derives from the Greek πρωτότυπον , "primitive form", neutral of πρωτότυπος , "original, primitive", from πρῶτος , "first" and τύπος ,...
worth 1.5 million euros, frontally into a BMW production car near the Nürburgring
Nürburgring
The Nürburgring is a motorsport complex around the village of Nürburg, Germany. It features a modern Grand Prix race track built in 1984, and a much longer old North loop track which was built in the 1920s around the village and medieval castle of Nürburg in the Eifel mountains. It is located about...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. Both cars were a total loss. He was 66.
The LFA veered into oncoming traffic, colliding head-on with a BMW 3 series on the L94 road at Boos
Boos, Mayen-Koblenz
Boos is a municipality in the district of Mayen-Koblenz in Rhineland-Palatinate, western Germany....
, near the Nürburgring. The BMW was also a test vehicle, both occupants were injured, one is reportedly still in critical condition. All three test drivers wore helmets. The left hand drive Lexus had been photographed previously with a driver wearing a white helmet.