PEOPLE OF THE YEAR
WALL OF FAME
The six people who kept cars exciting in 2022, and reached TG hero status while they were at it
WORDS PAUL HORRELL
KOJI SATO
CHIEF BRANDING OFFICER, TOYOTA AND PRESIDENT, LEXUS
Toyota Gazoo Racing has just won the WRC, and the World Rally Raid championship, and is leading the WEC with one round to go. Its identity carries onto the GR86, GR Supra and GR Yaris, with a GR Corolla to come in the US.
Koji Sato is the boss of all that. But GR is just a side hustle. He’s also the boss of Lexus. And “chief branding officer” (head of product) for the whole Toyota and Lexus shooting match. He’s an engineer and a mad-keen driver and he understands what car lovers, and everyone else, want out of a car.