Polygon will allow Toyota Gazoo Racing to tap into blockchain technology.
In an innovative move to celebrate race winners, the Toyota GR Cup, a North American racing series organized by Toyota Gazoo Racing, intends to award winners with digital trophies issued on the Polygon blockchain.
The latest announcement from Toyota Gazoo Racing states that the top three finishers of every race in the GR Cup will now be awarded digital trophies. On top of that, it will include detailed information about the driver's performance and race statistics.
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Jack Irving, the executive commercial director for Toyota Racing Development (TRD), elaborated on the rationale behind this initiative, saying:
Blockchain helps us keep a permanent digital record of drivers’ achievements that they can share with their friends, family and fans. It also allows us to develop new opportunities to introduce race fans to our partners.
This digital move underscores Toyota’s commitment to making the races more fan-centric and interactive.
In an approach similar to contemporary racing video games, the real-world GR Cup orders all drivers to begin with a standard vehicle, specifically a Toyota GR86. From there, the car is sent to a TRD garage and equipped with official Toyota racing gear. This standardization ensures that every driver has a level playing field at the race's start.
Toyota's involvement in the blockchain arena dates back to 2016, with the company becoming a member of the R3 Consortium, committed to researching and developing blockchain technologies. Following this, Toyota established its Blockchain Lab in 2019. In February 2023, Toyota Motor collaborated with Japan-based layer-1 blockchain, Astar Network, to host its first Web3 hackathon.
Toyota's decision to record and celebrate racing achievements on the Polygon blockchain symbolizes a link between traditional motorsport with cutting-edge technology. This initiative promises to add a new layer of excitement and engagement for both racers and fans.
