David Wilson, President, TRD, U.S.A. (Toyota Racing Development), has joined the impressive lineup of featured speakers for the 5th Annual Race Industry Week, taking place Monday through Thursday, Dec. 2–5.
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Wilson is group vice president and president of TRD, U.S.A., a subsidiary of Toyota Motor North America (TMNA). Wilson has announced his plans to retire from his role as President of TRD, U.S.A. in late December.
Wilson is responsible for all TRD operations and activities in North America. These include competition, commercial, engineering, operations, and administration. He oversees all TRD facilities — the organization’s headquarters and engine operations in Costa Mesa, Calif., and the chassis/team support operation in Salisbury, N.C. and the GR Cup and Toyota Performance Center in Mooresville, N.C.
In his 35 years at TRD, Wilson has worked as a design engineer; track support engineer; assistant vice president of operations; vice president, operations and engineering; vice president, production and strategic planning; group vice president, sales, operations and planning; group vice president, finance, operations and planning and most recently senior vice president. In addition, Wilson served as the interim president and general manager from June – December 2013.
Highlights from his career at TRD include helping Toyota, Lexus, and Gazoo Racing North America (GRNA) teams and drivers to victories in a variety of events, including the 12 Hours of Sebring, the Baja 500 and 1000, the Rolex 24 at Daytona, the Daytona 500, the Motul Petit Le Mans, the Chili Bowl, the NHRA U.S. Nationals, the Indianapolis 500 and the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. In addition, during his tenure Toyota, Lexus and GRNA teams and drivers earned championships in the CART, CORR, Grand-Am, IMSA, Indy Racing League, MTEG, NASCAR, NHRA, SCORE and USAC. Wilson was part of the Toyota leadership task force that helped launch the company into the most popular automotive sport in the United States — NASCAR.
Prior to joining TRD, Wilson was employed by Johnson & Johnson and was an officer in the U.S. 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 and resides in Newport Beach, Calif., with his family. In his spare time, he enjoys collecting wrist watches, working on cars and fitness training.