Although karts are long recognized as the perfect stepping stone for people who want to learn and perfect the fundamentals of track driving, Gazoo Racing also sees unique hurdles such as outright cost, transportation, storage, and maintenance.

Priced at 385,000 yen (P 157,100), the GR Kart is, all things considered, inexpensive.

Weighing in at 83 kilograms, it’s powered by a 215-cc carbureted four-stroke engine. However, as a “carmaker-made kart,” it incorporates plenty of Toyota’s design and engineering know-how.

For example, the engine has a self-charging battery thus eliminating the need to mount a separate battery and the hassle of charging a battery. Moreover, a newly developed diaphragm carburetor minimizes the impact of fuel level fluctuations caused by lateral g-forces, because it eliminates the float chamber. Also, a primer pump draws fuel into the carburetor before starting, making pre-departure engine priming effortless.

Built at the Gamagori GR Kart Workshop in Aichi Prefecture, the GR Kart’s assembly is guided by the Toyota Production System principles ensuring a high level of quality.

The design itself features a rust-resistant stainless steel rear axle shaft and internal metal fuel lines in the fuel tank to minimize gasoline-caused degradation.

The driving position is also highly adjustable with a tiltable steering wheel and sliding pedals. It can accommodate children and adults from 135 to 185 cm. Additionally, a weight box capable of holding up to 15 kilograms of ballast for racing allows easy adjustment of the kart’s weight and includes a place to install a transponder.

An upright-storage-compatible engine oil catch tank and a fuel filler opening orientation that minimizes fuel leaks even when the kart is upright make upright storage possible without first draining the kart's gasoline and engine oil.

Best yet, the GR Kart is designed to fit into Toyota’s MPV line-up such as the Alphard without disassembly.

Safety is also thoughtfully integrated into its design. The bumper is shaped in a way to prevent other karts from riding up onto a rear tire in the event of a collision. The Rear-hub stopper pins also prevent the unlikely case of a rear hub detaching, while the seat has a designated surface on its upper portion for resting hands when getting on or off the kart and shaped to shield hands from the muffler. Finally, its throttle cable is mounted in a way at preventing the throttle from sticking in the open position.