--- title: Hiromu Naruse · HICONIUM description: Hiromu Naruse in the HICONIUM register — one file carrying their credit. canonical_url: https://hiconium.dev/people/hiromu-naruse image: https://hiconium.dev/og/people/hiromu-naruse.png --- > HICONIUM · Index: https://hiconium.dev/llms.txt · Every page: append `.md` or send `Accept: text/markdown`. > Path: [Home](https://hiconium.dev/) › [People](https://hiconium.dev/people) › Hiromu Naruse > On this page: [Nürburgring as the measure](#nürburgring-as-the-measure) · [Seasoning from the materials](#seasoning-from-the-materials) · [LFA sign-off from the seat](#lfa-sign-off-from-the-seat) · [One file carries this name](#one-file-carries-this-name) People # Hiromu Naruse Toyota Master Driver who evaluated the Lexus LFA | Label | Value | | --- | --- | | Born | 1942 | | Died | near the Nürburgring, Germany, 2010 | | Nationality | Japanese | The record Toyota Master Driver who evaluated the Lexus LFA, trained Akio Toyoda, and managed the 2010 GAZOO Racing team at the Nürburgring. He died on 23 June 2010 in a road accident near the circuit while evaluating an LFA. Naruse joined Toyota in 1963 as a temporary worker in the Vehicle Inspection Division, then moved to Engineering Division No. 7 and became chief mechanic of the Toyota 7. A Toyota archive places him in Switzerland in 1970. A later TGR history calls a 1973 Celica 1600GT endurance entry for a Swiss dealer his first Nürburgring encounter; Toyota's published accounts do not reconcile the dates. In the 1980s, Toyota began developing sports models at the Nürburgring with the first-generation MR2. Naruse worked on the Supra and evaluated the first-generation Celsior and second-generation Prius. Toyota described him as Master Driver, the highest rank among more than 300 evaluation drivers. Akio Toyoda began Nürburgring driver training with Naruse in 2001, and the two entered the 24 Hours of Nürburgring in 2007. Toyota says LFA vehicle evaluation was left entirely to Naruse. The LFA raced at the Nürburgring 24 Hours from 2008 to 2010; Naruse drove in 2009 and was the 2010 team manager when No. 50 won SP8. Toyota later said he approved the car shortly before release. On 23 June 2010, he died in a collision with an oncoming vehicle while evaluating an LFA on a public road near the circuit, aged 67. ### Nürburgring as the measure Naruse said Japanese circuits showed one-tenth of a car's performance, whereas the Nürburgring revealed it all: misrepresentation was impossible. TGR says Toyota began developing sports models there in the 1980s with the first-generation MR2. ### Seasoning from the materials In a 2008 Toyota interview, he defined seasoning as drawing out the potential in the car created by its chief engineer, rather than changing parts. He also said that racing cars and trucks were alike: vehicles whose materials he was to use fully. ### LFA sign-off from the seat Toyota says LFA vehicle evaluation was entrusted to Naruse. Its later account says that, just before release, he approved the car as Master Driver: "Let's go with this." He died while still evaluating an LFA near the Nürburgring. The stations 1. 1963–2010 Toyota Motor Corporation Vehicle-inspection worker, motorsport mechanic and Master Driver 2. 2010 GAZOO Racing Nürburgring team manager The house [![Lexus](https://hiconium.dev/images/marques/full/lexus.svg)](https://hiconium.dev/manufacturers/lexus) Credited through Toyota. In the register ## One file carries this name - [Lexus LFA Master test driver and team coach · Toyota 2010–2012 €1.2M 2010–2012 €1.2M Rating 92.0](https://hiconium.dev/vehicles/lexus/lfa) The files above are the register's own record of this name. [The people index](https://hiconium.dev/people) holds everyone the register credits. In their words > “I'm only halfway up the stairs.” Hiromu Naruse · Autoweek, Hans Greimel, 23 June 2010 Sources - [toyotagazooracing.com](https://toyotagazooracing.com/nurburgring/contents/story/chapter1/) - [toyotagazooracing.com](https://toyotagazooracing.com/jp/nurburgring/special/story/chapter1/) - [toyotagazooracing.com](https://toyotagazooracing.com/archive/gr/grmn/meister/vol_01/page04.html) - [toyotagazooracing.com](https://toyotagazooracing.com/archive/gr/grmn/meister/vol_01/index.html) - [toyotagazooracing.com](https://toyotagazooracing.com/archive/gr/detail/7584581) - [global.toyota](https://global.toyota/en/detail/337436) - [global.toyota](https://global.toyota/en/detail/311977) - [global.toyota](https://global.toyota/en/detail/18258420) - [global.toyota](https://global.toyota/en/newsroom/corporate/43844942.html) - [global.toyota](https://global.toyota/en/newsroom/lexus/28686970.html) - [bloomberg.co.jp](https://www.bloomberg.co.jp/news/articles/2010-06-24/L4I6RM0D9L3501) - [as-web.jp](https://www.as-web.jp/past/%E3%83%AC%E3%82%AF%E3%82%B5%E3%82%B9lfa%E7%94%9F%E3%81%BF%E3%81%AE%E8%A6%AA%E6%88%90%E7%80%AC%E5%BC%98%E3%81%95%E3%82%93%E3%81%8C%E3%83%89%E3%82%A4%E3%83%84%E3%81%A7%E4%BA%8B) - [autoweek.com](https://www.autoweek.com/news/a2012646/naruse-only-halfway-stairs-lfa-when-crash-outside-nrburgring-claimed-him/) - [roadandtrack.com](https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/a10348883/the-incredible-tragic-life-of-toyotas-most-important-test-driver/) - [car.watch.impress.co.jp](https://car.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/series/morizo-nur24h/2043776.html) - [mag.toyota.co.uk](https://mag.toyota.co.uk/akio-toyoda-gazoo-racing-hiromu-naruse/)