Sigma Advanced Racing Development

SARD, an abbreviation of Sigma Advanced Racing Development, is a Japanese automotive engineering, tuning and motorsport organization based in Toyota, Aichi. Its activities combine competition operations with the development and sale of performance components, particularly for Toyota vehicles. The company is associated with Toyota-backed racing programs and has competed in major Japanese categories including the Japan Grand Touring Championship (JGTC), Super GT, All Japan Sports Prototype Championship and Super Taikyu. It has also entered endurance events such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 24 Hours of Tokachi. The business originated in 1972 as Sigma Automotive Co., Ltd., founded by Shin Kato to develop motorsport equipment and accessories while operating a racing team. Sigma made an early mark in international endurance racing in 1973, when its rotary-engined Sigma MC73 became the first Japanese-built car to qualify for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The car retired because of electrical problems, but the entry established the organization as an early Japanese participant in the event. Sigma returned to Le Mans in subsequent years with the MC74 and MC75, using Mazda and later Toyota power, although those efforts produced limited sporting results. In 1985, the racing division was separated from Sigma Automotive and Kato established Sigma Advanced Racing Development. The new company concentrated on motorsport engineering and aftermarket performance equipment, with Toyota vehicles becoming its principal platform. SARD's product expertise has included turbocharging, fuel-delivery systems, cooling equipment, suspension components and aerodynamic body parts. Although strongly associated with Toyota, its fuel-system components have also been used by tuning businesses working with other marques. SARD returned to international prototype competition in 1989 as Toyota Team SARD, entering the World Sports Prototype Championship and the All Japan Sports Prototype Championship with Toyota machinery. Following the end of the Group C era, it moved into the newly established JGTC, the predecessor of Super GT. Its endurance projects included the MC8-R, a V8-powered MR2-based prototype, and Toyota Supra entries at Le Mans in the mid-1990s. The Le Mans campaigns were difficult: the MC8-R failed to qualify in later attempts, while the Supra completed the 1995 race in 14th place and did not finish in 1996. The organization became a continuing Toyota works-backed presence in Japanese GT racing. It later raced Lexus machinery before moving to the Toyota GR Supra era. Its most significant Super GT achievement came in 2016, when Heikki Kovalainen and Kohei Hirate won the championship for Toyota Team SARD in a Lexus RC F. SARD has also pursued hybrid racing technology. A Lexus GS450h finished fourth in class and 17th overall at the 2006 24 Hours of Tokachi. In 2007, a hybridized Super GT Toyota Supra, renamed the Denso SARD Supra HV-R, won the race outright after starting from pole and completing 616 laps. The result was described as the first victory by a hybrid-powered racing car. Beyond cars, SARD operates the SARD Marine Project, which develops and sells Toyota-powered motorboats. The company has also explored international endurance-racing opportunities, including a planned 2015 FIA World Endurance Championship LMP2 program with Morand Racing. That program was scaled back before the season after financing commitments fell short, while Morand continued under the Team SARD Morand name. SARD remains best understood as a specialist Japanese performance brand whose identity rests on the interaction of racing engineering, Toyota-focused aftermarket products and technology experimentation.

SARD's history began in 1972, when Shin Kato founded Sigma Automotive Co., Ltd. The original organization was created to develop motorsport-related parts and accessories and to operate a racing team. Its first major competition activities took place in Japan, including participation in the Fuji Grand Champion Series. Sigma soon pursued international endurance racing, entering the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1973 with the Mazda rotary-powered Sigma MC73. Although the car retired with electrical trouble, its qualification made it the first Japanese car to qualify for the event. Sigma returned in 1974 with the Mazda-backed MC74, which completed the race but was not classified because it did not cover enough distance. In 1975, the Toyota-powered MC75 also retired early. The racing division was reorganized in 1985, when Kato established Sigma Advanced Racing Development as an independent company. The new organization adopted the SARD abbreviation and combined competition engineering with aftermarket parts production. Toyota became its principal automotive focus. SARD developed equipment for Toyota applications including turbochargers, fuel systems, cooling systems, suspension components and aerodynamic parts. Its fuel-delivery products also gained relevance beyond Toyota-focused tuning because they could be used by other performance specialists. SARD resumed international prototype racing in 1989 under the Toyota Team SARD name. It entered the World Sports Prototype Championship at Suzuka with a Toyota 89C-V and also participated in Japan's sports-prototype series. When Group C racing ended, SARD moved into the JGTC, the championship that later evolved into Super GT. The team continued to race Toyota and later Lexus machinery while retaining a close relationship with Toyota's motorsport programs. The company made another attempt at Le Mans during the 1990s. Its MC8-R was based on an MR2 concept and used a V8 engine. The project entered the 1995 and 1996 events but did not qualify in the later confrontation with newer GT1 machinery. SARD also entered a JGTC-specification Toyota Supra at Le Mans. That car finished 14th in 1995, while the 1996 entry failed to finish. These programs extended SARD's endurance-racing profile even though they did not deliver a Le Mans class victory. SARD's work increasingly included alternative powertrain experimentation. In 2006, it entered a hybrid Lexus GS450h at the 24 Hours of Tokachi, where it finished fourth in class and 17th overall. For the following event, SARD adapted a retired Super GT Supra with a hybrid version of its 3UZ-FE engine. The resulting Denso SARD Supra HV-R produced approximately 480 horsepower and 510 newton-metres of torque. It started from pole and dominated the 2007 race, completing 616 laps and winning by a substantial margin. The victory was presented as the first race win for a hybrid-powered car. In Super GT, SARD remained a Toyota-associated team and achieved its first championship in 2016. The Lexus RC F driven by Heikki Kovalainen and Kohei Hirate secured the title for Toyota Team SARD. The organization subsequently continued its Toyota works-linked GT activities, including the Toyota GR Supra era. Alongside motorsport and automotive aftermarket work, SARD developed the SARD Marine Project, which builds and sells Toyota-powered motorboats. SARD also explored a return to the global endurance-racing scene through a proposed 2015 FIA World Endurance Championship LMP2 program with Morand Racing, with a possible future LMP1 direction. The project was scaled back after backers withdrew and the required season budget could not be assembled. Morand nevertheless competed during the season under the Team SARD Morand designation. Across its history, SARD has therefore operated as both a product engineering business and a racing organization, with its reputation built on Toyota performance technology, Japanese GT competition and technically ambitious endurance projects.

• 2016

  First Super GT championship

  [1]SARDen.wikipedia.org

  Toyota Team SARD wins its first Super GT championship with a Lexus RC F driven by Heikki Kovalainen and Kohei Hirate.

• 2015

  Planned WEC LMP2 program is reduced

  [1]SARDen.wikipedia.org

  SARD's proposed FIA World Endurance Championship collaboration with Morand Racing is curtailed after funding support falls short.

• 2007

  Hybrid Supra wins at Tokachi

  [1]SARDen.wikipedia.org

  The Denso SARD Supra HV-R wins the 24 Hours of Tokachi and is recognized as the first hybrid-powered car to win a race.

• 2006

  Hybrid Lexus enters the 24 Hours of Tokachi

  [1]SARDen.wikipedia.org

  SARD competes with a hybrid Lexus GS450h, finishing fourth in class and 17th overall.

• 1993

  SARD moves into JGTC

  [1]SARDen.wikipedia.org

  After the Group C era ends, SARD transitions into the newly established Japan Grand Touring Championship.

• 1989

  Toyota Team SARD enters international prototype racing

  [1]SARDen.wikipedia.org

  SARD debuts in the World Sports Prototype Championship at Suzuka with a Toyota 89C-V.

• 1985

  SARD becomes an independent company

  [1]SARDen.wikipedia.org

  The racing division of Sigma Automotive is separated and reorganized by Kato as Sigma Advanced Racing Development.

• 1973

  First Japanese car qualifies for Le Mans

  [1]SARDen.wikipedia.org

  The Mazda-powered Sigma MC73 qualifies for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, becoming the first Japanese car to achieve that milestone, but retires with electrical problems.

• 1972

  Sigma Automotive is founded

  [1]SARDen.wikipedia.org

  Shin Kato establishes Sigma Automotive Co., Ltd. to develop motorsport parts and accessories and operate a racing team.

A specialist Japanese performance-engineering brand that connects Toyota-focused aftermarket parts with professional motorsport development and factory-supported racing.

• Automotive aftermarket

  Toyota performance parts

  SARD's core commercial activity is the development and manufacture of performance components for Toyota vehicles. The range is associated with motorsport-derived engineering and includes equipment intended to improve power delivery, thermal management, handling and aerodynamic performance.

• Forced induction

  Turbochargers

  SARD develops turbocharging hardware for performance applications, supporting increased engine output when integrated with suitable fuel, cooling and engine-management systems. The products form part of the company's broader Toyota tuning portfolio.

• Fuel and engine systems

  Fuel-system components

  The company is particularly associated with aftermarket fuel-delivery equipment. These components are used in modified vehicles and by tuning specialists, including applications outside Toyota platforms, making fuel-system technology one of SARD's more broadly relevant product areas.

• Chassis and thermal systems

  Cooling and suspension systems

  SARD produces cooling-system and suspension-related parts intended for higher-performance road and competition vehicles. These products address the additional thermal loads, control requirements and durability demands associated with tuned or raced cars.

• Automotive body and aerodynamic parts

  Aerodynamic kits

  SARD's aerodynamic products apply racing-inspired design to Toyota-based performance vehicles. The range includes redesigned exterior components intended to alter airflow and give modified cars a more competition-oriented appearance.

• Marine products

  SARD Marine Project boats

  Through the SARD Marine Project, the company builds and sells motorboats powered by Toyota engines. This project extends SARD's engineering identity beyond automotive tuning while retaining its association with Toyota powertrain technology.

• 2015

  Reduce participation in the planned WEC programStrategy

  Background

  SARD planned an LMP2 entry in the FIA World Endurance Championship with Morand Racing and considered a longer-term path toward LMP1. Funding commitments weakened before the season began.

  Action taken

  SARD reduced its participation after it could not provide the required share of the season budget. Morand continued under the Team SARD Morand name.

  Aftermath

  The proposed SARD-backed WEC expansion did not proceed as originally planned, although the associated team identity remained visible during the season.

  Source

• 2007

  Develop the Denso SARD Supra HV-R hybrid racerOther

  Background

  After entering a hybrid Lexus GS450h in 2006, SARD adapted a Super GT Supra and its 3UZ-FE engine for hybrid endurance racing.

  Action taken

  The team created the Denso SARD Supra HV-R, a hybrid-powered racing car producing approximately 480 horsepower and 510 newton-metres of torque.

  Aftermath

  The car won the 24 Hours of Tokachi and was reported as the first hybrid-powered car to win a race.

  Source

1. 1SARDen.wikipedia.org
2. 2SARD official websitesard.co.jp