Rally Legend Mäkinen To Direct Toyota Gazoo Racing’s WRC Campaign
Four-time World Rally Champion Tommi Mãkinen has been appointed Team Principal for Toyota Gazoo Racing’s World Rally Championship campaign. The 51-year-old Finn will lead the team as it prepares the Yaris WRC for its competition debut in 2017. Akio Toyoda, Toyota President, will serve as team chairman.
Mr Toyoda said: “Tommi has abundant experience and fresh ideas for vehicle development, both of which will be valuable assets to us. With Tommi behind us, Toyota will forge ahead with our return to the WRC and also our efforts to make ever better cars.”
Tommi Mãkinen won 24 WRC rallies during his 18-year driving career, including four consecutive drivers’ titles with Mitsubishi between 1996 and 1999. He went on to drive for Subaru with further success in 2002 and retired from the championship in 2003.
ENDS
Picture caption: Tommi Mãkinen pictured (right) with Toyota President Akio Toyoda.
