TOM'S

TOM'S Inc. (株式会社トムス, Kabushiki-gaisha Tomusu) is an automotive aftermarket parts manufacturer and tuner of Toyota and Lexus vehicles and factory-backed racing team. TOM'S head office is located in Tokyo, Japan.[1][2]

For other uses, see Toms (disambiguation).
TOM'S Inc.
IndustryAutomobile tuning & parts manufacturer for street and motorsports
FoundedFebruary 20, 1974 (1974-02-20)
FounderNobuhide Tachi
Headquarters
Setagaya, Tokyo
,
Japan
Key people
Isao Tanimoto
(President and Representative Director)
ProductsAutomobile tuning and racing products
Websiteglobal.tomsracing.co.jp

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 with Super GT, Super Formula and Super Formula Lights.[5][6]

History

The name stands for Tachi Oiwa Motor Sport, as the company was established in 1974 by Nobuhide 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 the Tama area of Tokyo.[8] The tuning firm expanded to Norfolk, England with branch openings in 1987.[8] TOM'S entered the Japanese Formula 3 as an engine tuner in 1981. In 1987 the company opened a British factory to produce Formula 3 engines for Europe. They also were F3 chassis manufacturers from 1991 to 1997.

In 1993, TOM'S produced vehicles for the Japanese 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 the All Japan GT Championship.[8]

List of TOM'S complete cars
TOM'S T020 (MR2) complete car
TOM'S Supra 340kmh speedometer

Also the aero work done to the number 36 Castrol TOM'S SUPRA (1997 GTC 500 Champion with Michael Krumm and Pedro de la Rosa).[18]

Motorsport
TOM'S JGTC Supra
TOM'S SC 430 GT500
TOM'S GR Supra GT500
TOM'S Super Formula Toyota RI4A

Outside of aftermarket tuning and parts, TOM'S Racing has a long history within the world of 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]

Japanese Formula 3 Championship

TOM'S Racing had a large involvement and repeated success in the now-defunct Japanese Formula 3 Championship.

They won the championship a record 21 times: in 1987, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2018.[2]

Super GT / JGTC

TOM'S Racing has been consistently involved in the Super GT racing series, the top level of Japanese sports car racing, since 1995 when it was called the All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship (JGTC). The team has raced both Toyota and Lexus silhouette cars.

TOM'S has won the GT500 Class Championship six times: in 1997, 1999, 2006, 2008, 2017, and 2021.[2][19][20]

24 Hours of LeMans

From 1985 until 1993, TOM'S competed in the 24 Hours of LeMans, with a best result of 2nd place in 1992 with a Toyota TS010.[2]

All Japan Sports Prototype Championship

TOM'S raced in the All Japan Sports Prototype Championship in Group C, winning a championship in 1992.[2]

Macau Grand Prix

With the second-most team wins in history, TOM'S has won the Macau Grand Prix five times: in 1992, 1998, 1999, 2007, and 2008.[2]

Japanese Touring Car Championship

TOM'S won the Japanese Touring Car Championship in 1994 with a Toyota Corona E, and in 1997 with a Toyota Chaser.[2]

Super Formula Championship

In the top level of Japanese single-seater racing, the Super Formula Championship, TOM'S has won the championship four times: in 2011, 2012, 2014, and 2019.[21]

Additionally, in its developmental series, Super Formula Lights, TOM'S has won the championship every year since its inception, in 2020, 2021, and 2022.[2]

References
  1. "Business Description | Company | TOM'S Global". Retrieved 2023-05-23.
  2. "Company History | Company | TOM'S Global". Retrieved 2022-10-14.
  3. "SC50, the Lexus Coupe by TOM'S". Nihon Car.com. Retrieved 2009-11-05.
  4. "Tom's套裝避震器 < 汽車知識庫 < 汽車新聞". www.carnews.com. Archived from the original on 2011-07-08. Retrieved 2009-11-05.
  5. "TOM'S SC430 (Wakisaka-Lotterer) Clinch Season Opener". SuperGT.net. 2006-03-19. Archived from the original on 2007-09-26. Retrieved 2007-05-06.
  6. "From Japanese F3 we have the Tom's Team, who should never be underestimated". Motorsport.com. Archived from the original on 2011-06-07. Retrieved 2009-11-05.
  7. "Corporate Vision | Company | TOM'S Global". Retrieved 2023-05-23.
  8. "TOM'S——TOYOTA御用改装品牌--汽车频道-中华网". auto.china.com. Archived from the original on 2008-07-09. Retrieved 2009-11-05.
  9. "Interview | What's TOM'S | TOM'S Global". Retrieved 2023-05-23.
  10. "TOM'S CENTURY | TOM'S COMPLETE CAR". TOM'S COMPLETE CAR | 株式会社トムスのコンプリートカー、認定中古車、カスタムパッケージ. 2022-11-09. Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  11. "TOM'S SURPA｜TOM'S". www.tomsracing.co.jp. Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  12. "TOM'S SUPRA TOURER". TOM'S SUPRA TOURER (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  13. "TOM'S LEXUS LC500 Convertible". TOM'S LEXUS LC500 Convertible (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  14. "TOM'S LEXUS GS F prod.Kazuki Nakajima". TOM'S LEXUS GS F prod.Kazuki Nakajima (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  15. "TOM'S LEXUS IS300 | TOM'S COMPLETE CAR". TOM'S COMPLETE CAR | 株式会社トムスのコンプリートカー、認定中古車、カスタムパッケージ. 2022-11-09. Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  16. "TOM'S GR YARIS | TOM'S COMPLETE CAR". TOM'S COMPLETE CAR | 株式会社トムスのコンプリートカー、認定中古車、カスタムパッケージ. 2022-11-09. Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  17. "TOM'S GR86 WIDE BODY". TOM'S GR86 WIDE BODY (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  18. "1997 Toyota Tom's Supra GT500 - Images, Specifications and Information". www.ultimatecarpage.com. Retrieved 2009-11-05.
  19. "SUPER GT｜レース情報". TOM'S. 2018-04-26. Retrieved 2023-05-23.
  20. "SUPER GT #36". SUPER GT #36 (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-05-23.
  21. "SUPER FORMULA". SUPER FORMULA (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-05-23.
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