Sigma Automotive Co., Ltd was founded in 1972 by Shin Kato to develop and produce motorsport-related parts and accessories, and to operate its own racing team. In 1985, the racing division became an independent company, Sigma Advanced Racing Development (SARD), focusing on motorsport and aftermarket parts for Toyota cars.
Sigma Automotive began its racing career in the Fuji Grand Champion Series. In 1973, the company participated for the first time in the 24 Hours of Le Mans with their Sigma MC73, powered by a Mazda Wankel engine. This marked the first time a Japanese car qualified for Le Mans. The car retired early due to electrical problems. The team returned in 1974 with the Mazda-backed MC74, finishing the race but not completing enough laps to be classified. In 1975, the team switched to a Toyota powerplant in the MC75, but suffered another early retirement.
SARD returned to international motorsport in 1989 as Toyota Team SARD, debuting in the World Sports Prototype Championship at Suzuka with a Toyota 89C-V. The team also competed in the All Japan Sports Prototype Championship. With the demise of Group C racing in 1993, SARD transitioned to the newly formed JGTC series, now known as Super GT. SARD also returned to Le Mans with a V8-powered Toyota MR2 known as the SARD MC8-R, competing in 1995 and 1996, but failed to pre-qualify in 1997. The team entered a Toyota Supra in the first two years of the MC8-R program. This JGTC-specification Supra was entered in the 1995 24 Hours of Le Mans, finishing 14th, but the team did not finish in 1996.
SARD continued to compete in the JGTC and Super GT series with Toyota and Lexus vehicles. In the 2016 Super GT Championship, SARD won its first Super GT championship with a Lexus RC F driven by Heikki Kovalainen and Kohei Hirate.
In 2006, SARD competed in the 24 Hours of Tokachi, a Super Taikyu race, with a hybrid-powered Lexus GS450h, finishing 4th in class and 17th overall. In 2007, SARD achieved a victory at the 24 Hours of Tokachi with a hybrid-powered Supra, the Denso SARD Supra HV-R. This car started on pole and dominated the race, completing 616 laps and becoming the first hybrid-powered car to win a race.
SARD planned to participate in the 2015 FIA World Endurance Championship season with an LMP2-class prototype in association with Morand Racing. However, SARD's participation was curtailed due to a loss of financial backing, though Morand Racing continued to compete under the Team SARD Morand name.
Sigma Advanced Racing Development (SARD) develops and manufactures tuning parts mainly for Toyota cars, including turbochargers, redesigned fuel systems, cooling systems, suspension parts, and aerodynamic kits. The company also builds Toyota-powered motorboats under the SARD Marine Project.
SARD currently fields a Toyota GR Supra under the Toyota Team SARD name in the Super GT series.
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