SARD
| Limited | |
| Industry | Motorsport and car tuning |
| Founded | 1985 |
| Headquarters | Higashimachi, Toyota, Aichi, Japan |
|
Key people
|
Shin Kato, President |
| Products | Racing team, aftermarket tuning component |
| Owner | Shin Kato |
| Website | Official page |
SARD Corporation (株式会社サード Kabushiki gaisha Sādo?, abbreviated as Sigma Advanced Racing Development) is a Japanese tuning company and racing team from Toyota, Aichi, mainly competing in the Super GT series and specialising in Toyota tuning parts. SARD is also taking part of the 2015 FIA World Endurance Championship season, with a prototype in the LMP2 category, with plans for a future LMP1 entry.
The company was formed in 1972 as Sigma Automotive Co., Ltd by Shin Kato to develop and produce motorsport related parts and accessories as well as operating their own racing team. Sigma began its racing career in the Fuji Grand Champion Series and for the following year participated for the first time in the 24 hours of Le Mans with their Sigma MC73, powered by a Mazda Wankel engine, becoming the first Japanese car to qualify for Le Mans, before retiring early in the race with electrical problems. The team returned for the following year with a Mazda backed MC74, finishing but not making enough laps to be classified. In 1975 the team switched to a Toyota powerplant in the MC75, only to suffer from another early retirement.
Sigma Automotive would continue to compete in numerous domestic series. In 1985, the racing division of Sigma Automotive became an independent company, Kato established a company called Sigma Advanced Racing Development (SARD) specialising in motorsport as well as producing aftermarket parts for Toyota automobiles.
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Wikipedia