Toyota TRD President Stepping Down

Toyota Racing Development USA President David Wilson will retire December 16 after 35 years with Toyota Motor North America, it was announced Wednesday.

General Manager Tyler Gibbs will succeed Wilson as president of TRD, a subsidiary of Toyota Motor North America. In his new role, he will be responsible for all TRD operations and activities in North America. These include engine engineering, chassis engineering, manufacturing, administration, and operations.

Gibbs, who joined TRD in 1996, will oversee all TRD facilities, including the organization’s headquarters and engine operations in Costa Mesa, California, the chassis and team support operation in Salisbury, North Carolina, and the GR Garage and Toyota Performance Center in Mooresville, N.C.

During Wilson’s more than three decade tenure at TRD, he played a significant role in many championships and race wins with Toyota, Lexus, and Toyota Gazoo Racing North America teams and drivers, including championships in CART, CORR, Grand-Am, IMSA, Indy Racing League, MTEG, NASCAR, NHRA, SCORE, and USAC. He also has been a part of victories in iconic races in various forms of motorsports, including the 12 Hours of Sebring, Baja 500 and 1000, Rolex 24 at Daytona, Daytona 500, Indianapolis 500, Petit Le Mans, Chili Bowl, and Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.

Wilson’s career allowed him to play an integral role with the Toyota and TRD leadership team that planned, supported and executed the company’s entries in CART/IndyCar and NASCAR.

Prior to joining TRD, Wilson was with Johnson & Johnson and was an officer in the US Army 101st Airborne Division, where he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Parachutist’s Badge, and the Air Assault Badge. Wilson earned a mechanical engineering degree from Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia.

In addition to the position from which Wilson is retiring, during his time with TRD he was: A design engineer; track support engineer; vice president operations and engineering; vice president production and strategic planning; vice president sales, operations, and planning; and vice president finance, operations, and planning.