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Bruce Newton31 Jan 2015
NEWS

Official: Toyota confirms WRC comeback

Yaris world rally racer revealed as Toyota confirms testing is already underway for 2017 WRC attack

Toyota will return to the World Rally Championship with a turbocharged all-wheel drive Yaris in 2017.

The announcement confirming Toyota will back an assault on the WRC for the first time since 1999 was made by the global boss of the world’s biggest car company, Akio Toyoda, in Tokyo this afternoon.

The announcement is a boost for the WRC, which currently includes factory Volkswagen (Polo), Citroen (DS3) and Hyundai (i20) teams, as well as a semi-factory operation that runs the Ford Fiesta.

It also reflects the desire of Toyoda – a racing and rally driver and fan himself -- to invigorate the image of the Toyota brand and attract more youthful fans.

Australia currently hosts a round of the WRC each year on the NSW north coast at Coffs Harbour.

As expected – and previously reported – the test and development program will be run over the next two years by Toyota Motorsport GmbH (TMG) based in Cologne, Germany, before making the starting line in 2017 with the introduction of revised championship technical regulations.

TMG has been testing a rally version of the Toyota mini-car in 2014 on tarmac and gravel stages in Europe and will expand and intensify development over the next two years.

A WRC Yaris in launch livery was unveiled by Toyoda in Tokyo this afternoon. The car features a 1.6-litre turbocharged direct-injection engine that produces more than 225kW and 440Nm and drives all four wheels through a six-speed sequential transmission and ZF clutch.

Several young drivers have already tested the car and 27-year old Frenchman Eric Camilli has been selected as the first member of a junior development aimed at developing Toyota rally stars of the future.

Camilli will carry out the development program alongside experienced Finn Sebastian Lindholm and last year’s Tour de Corse winner Stephane Sarrazin, who also drives for Toyota’s World Endurance Championship-winning sports car team, which TMG also runs and is confirmed to continue through until the end of 2015 at least.

TMG also mounted Toyota’s unsuccessful Formula One attack between 2002 and 2009, but is best known as the Japanese giant’s long-time rallying partner.

Previously known as Toyota Team Europe (TTE), it claimed four drivers’ and three manufacturers’ world championships campaigning such famous cars as the Celica Twin-Cam and GT-Four and the Corolla WRC. Drivers included legends Carlos Sainz, Juha Kankkunen and Didier Auriol.

But infamously, TMG was also banned from competition in 1995 after being caught cheating in the 1994 WRC.

TMG president Yoshiaki Kinoshita said in a press statement it was a great honour to bring the Toyota name back into the WRC as well as continue to compete in the WEC.

“To run two works motorsport programs simultaneously is of course a challenge but we believe we have the expertise and determination to succeed,” he said.

“There is much to do as we make the journey back to WRC but to have received the support of Toyota Motor Corporation and our president Akio Toyoda is already very encouraging.

“We are looking forward to taking the next steps with an extensive development plan and a junior development program. It is an exciting time and we are looking forward to this new challenge with great anticipation.”

The global move back into the WRC won’t be followed by Toyota Australia despite its strong heritage in local rallying with four-time national champions Neal Bates and Coral Taylor. Instead the company is focussed on a one-make 86 circuit racing series that kicks off in 2016.

“Toyota Australia welcomes the long-awaited return of Toyota to the WRC as another clear demonstration of the company’s passion for cars,” spokesman Steve Coughlan said.

“You can see this spirit in evidence around the world with Toyota actively pursuing a broad range of motorsports, ranging from affordable grassroots racings like our planned one-make series to the torture test of the Dakar and the highest levels of professional competition with the WEC and now the WRC.

“Rejoining the WRC will benefit Toyota in Australia and globally as it will enable the company to strengthen its technology development, enhance its brand image and build even better cars.

“It will also help Toyota attract a whole new generation of automotive enthusiasts… we can’t wait to see the new WRC car competing in the forests near Coffs Harbour in 2017!”

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