Ahead of this weekend’s F1 we’re revisiting Toyota’s wild batmobile F1 car
- Toyota’s F1 team was, sadly, a short-lived effort
- First announced in 1999, Toyota competed from 2002-2009
- In 2008, it produced one of the craziest collaborations of all time
Published on May 21, 2025 at 8:41 PM (UTC+4)
by Keelin McNamara
Last updated on May 21, 2025 at 8:46 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
An F1 race weekend is always a hot topic of conversation.
Whether it’s rider moves or potential race winners, there is always something going on.
Today, the topic of discussion is something very different indeed.
Because the topic concerns Toyota and the actual Batmobile.
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All the way back in January 1999, Japanese car brand Toyota announced its intention to enter F1.
This was huge news at the time, because Toyota was, and remains, one of the world’s biggest car manufacturers.
Of course, this directly translated to an ability to invest a substantial amount of time and finance.
Unusually, Toyota decided to enter Formula 1 with its own works team, rather than partnering with a specialist race team or chassis manufacturer.
Nonetheless, the team made its debut in 2002 – but had a very disappointing season.
Despite having one of the biggest budgets on the grid, the team scored just two points in total.
2005 saw the Toyota F1 team enjoy a lot more success, coinciding with the signing of Ralf Schumacher.
Unlike previous seasons, the team scored points in all but the opening race and the United States Grand Prix.
Like a lot of other car companies, Toyota ran into financial trouble in 2009.
The Global Recession led to the Toyota Team folding in November of that year.
But the year before, Toyota pulled off one of the coolest collaborations in racing history.
If you cast your mind back to 2008, The Dark Knight was released.
Aside from being arguably the greatest superhero film of all time, it led to a crazy F1 collaboration.
During the British Grand Prix at Silverstone in 2008, something truly unreal happened.
Toyota drivers Timo Glock and Jarno Trulli lined up next to a car.
But it wasn’t just any car – it was the actual Batmobile itself. Of course, Toyoya often does cool stuff – remember this Land Cruiser for the Moon?
As you might imagine, seeing an F1 car lined up alongside the Batmobile turned more than a few heads.
It might well have been the highlight of Toyota’s time as an F1 constructor, and it was very cool.
Keelin McNamara is a content writer at Supercar Blondie from Ireland, covering cars, technology, and lifestyle. Despite being a Law graduate, he discovered his passion for journalism during the COVID-19 pandemic, and has worked in the industry ever since. Outside of work, he is an avid MotoGP fan, and is a self-confessed addict of the sport.
