Toyota Returns to the World Rally Championship Revealing Details of the Yaris WRC and Driver Line-up

13 December 2016

Toyota Gazoo Racing today launches the Toyota Yaris WRC car and reveals its driver line-up as it re-enters the World Rally Championship in 2017.

“Toyota is back!” said Team Chairman Akio Toyoda, as Toyota Gazoo Racing unveiled the package which represents the next chapter in the Company’s proud rally heritage.

Toyota Yaris WRC Launch Image Gallery

With the start of the season in Monte Carlo just over a month away, the team are putting the finishing touches to their preparations for an event they have been eagerly awaiting. They have spent thousands of hours in the workshop and on the testing programme, focusing on the single goal of being ready for the first rally in the 2017 calendar.

Taking part in the WRC, the pinnacle of the sport, is certain to provide Toyota with new challenges and opportunities to further develop its people, explore new technologies and experience different roads and driving conditions around the world, thus contributing to its commitment to make ever-better cars.

Message from Team Chairman Akio Toyoda (summary, full text below)

Today it is my great pleasure to present the car that will compete in the World Rally Championship, together with our team and partners.  I would like to express my gratitude to and respect for those fans who have waited 17 years for this day and also all the rally organisers, participants and automakers who have safeguarded and furthered the sport of rallying during our absence. Thanks to all of you, we’re back here.

Both people and cars are strengthened when they are exposed during competition to conditions that exceed their imagination. Toyota Gazoo Racing “hate” to lose, and of course we do not want to lose in the WRC. The other day I had the chance to drive the Yaris WRC with Tommi (Mäkinen) and was able to share a feeling of confidence in our ability to compete with this car.

We, including members from Finland, Germany and Japan, will be doing our very best throughout this final month so that we can – as quickly as possible – assure fans that “Toyota is back” and put smiles on their faces.

The Yaris WRC: a new generation world rally car

The Yaris WRC has been developed in compliance with FIA technical regulations for 2017 and is part of a new generation of world rally cars that will add a new dimension to the sport’s top-flight category in the seasons ahead. It is equipped with a 380hp1.6-litre direct injection engine and presents an impressive design, thanks to the freedom in the regulations regarding aerodynamics.

The car has been built and developed by a team of experienced engineers, including Tom Fowler, Simon Carrier and Mikko Ruoho.

“The Yaris WRC is a well-designed car with incredible potential,” said Tommi Mäkinen, Team Principal. “The new regulations allow for much greater freedom in terms of development. Although we have yet to explore all the possibilities, we can say that the car is reliable and quick. I really can’t wait to see the results in racing conditions.”

A line-up of complementary drivers for 2017

Two Yaris WRC, driven by Jari-Matti Latvala and Juho Hänninen, will contest the opening round of the 2017 World Rally Championship in Monte Carlo on 19 January. Esapekka Lappi, a young Finnish driver who won the WRC-2 Championship this year, will join the team during the season a test driver.

Jari-Matti Latvala – lead driver

Since contesting his first WRC rally in 2002, Jari-Matti Latvala has continued to impress, ending the 2016 season with 16 career WRC wins to his name. With 169 starts under his belt and having finished WRC runner-up three times alongside co-driver Miikka Anttila, he is without question one of the best drivers in the sport. His invaluable experience and proven performance will give the Toyota Gazoo Racing WRC team real impetus for the year ahead.

Latvala said: “I started my rally career in a Toyota Corolla GT back in 2001 and my first competitive outing in a World Rally Car was behind the wheel of a Corolla WRC in Estonia in 2003. So in many ways it feels like I’m coming home. I’m really happy to be joining the Toyota Gazoo Racing WRC team from the start and lead this new adventure with them. I feel lucky to be part of this story and hope we will amass many victories as it progresses.”

Juho Hänninen – driver

Juho Hänninen, who will be competing for Toyota Gazoo Racing WRC alongside co-driver Kaj Lindström, took part in the development of the Yaris WRC from its very first outing. His considerable WRC experience and his knowledge of the car will make him an undeniable asset to the team.

Esapekka Lappi – test driver

Newly crowned WRC 2 Champion, this young Finnish driver has impressed with his turn of speed, calmness and ability to adapt. After cutting his teeth in R5 category cars in the European Rally Championship and developing his skills on the world stage in WRC 2 competition, the Finnish driver is ready for a new challenge, serving as test driver for the Toyota Gazoo Racing WRC team.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for me and my co-driver Janne Ferm, it’s a dream come true. We have both worked so hard over the years to get to this point and finally it’s here. I’m excited and motivated about joining the team and extremely grateful for the opportunity. I can’t wait to start the testing programme.”

Message from Team Chairman Akio Toyoda (full text)

When I attended the WRC in Finland as a spectator in 2014, many fans asked when Toyota be returning to rallying.

Six months later we decided to come back to the WRC, and today it is my great pleasure to present the car we will be using, together with the team members who have prepared it and the partners who have supported us in that effort.

I was extremely surprised and delighted that even after more than 10 years, many people remember that Toyota once competed in the WRC.

First I would like to express my gratitude to and respect for those fans who have waited 17 years for this day and also all the rally organisers, participants and automakers who have safeguarded and furthered the sport of rallying during our absence. Thanks to all of you, we’re back here.

At the same time, I’d like to take this opportunity to express my respect for everyone who created a strong bond between rallying and Toyota, and etched that bond into people’s memory, including the late Ove Andersson, who launched Toyota’s team in the 1970s and led it from then; the late Björn Waldegård, who catapulted Toyota to fame in the WRC in the 1980s; and Carlos Sainz, Juha Kankunnen and Didier Auriol, who captured drivers’ championships for Toyota in the 1990s.

Because they involve competition on all types of road, rallies are the optimal stage on which to hone the capabilities of both people and cars. Toyota has not been seen on that stage for a long time, but I’m truly happy that we’re back.

Both people and cars are trained and made stronger when they are exposed in competition to conditions that exceed the imagination.

Tommi Mäkinen has won WRC events numerous times and has the experience of competing in a variety of cars, including Mitsubishi and Subaru.

Precisely because we understood that Tommi could bring this range of experience to Toyota, unimaginable until now, we asked him to lead our car and team-building effort.

As I said after this year’s Le Mans 24 Hours endurance race, Toyota Gazoo Racing “hates” to lose. Rest assured that the same attitude applies to the WRC.

The other day I had the pleasure of sitting in the driving seat of our Yaris WTC and driving a few miles with Tommi.

Experiencing the car’s sound and smell, the feel of the steering wheel and pedals, and, more than anything else, the look on Tommi’s face, I was able to share with him a feeling of confidence in our ability to compete with this car.

We, including members from Finland, Germany and Japan led by Tommi, will be doing our very best throughout this final month, right up until the WRC begins, so that we can, as quickly as possible, assure long-time fans that Toyota is back as the king of this kind of event, and put smiles on the faces of fans old and new by affirming their choice to support our team. I hope that you’ll support Toyota Gazoo Racing, a team that hates losing more than anything else, as we compete in the WRC.

TOYOTA YARIS WRC TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

The Toyota Yaris WRC is a new generation World Rally Car, built to 2017 FIA technical regulations. It is powered by a 1.6-litre direct injection turbo engine producing more than 380hp

ENGINE 
TypeIn-line, turbocharged 4-cylinder with direct injection
Displacement (cc)1,600
Max. power (hp/bhp)>380/375
Max. torque (Nm)>425
Bore x stroke (mm)83.8 x 72.5
Air restrictor (mm)36 (FIA regulation)
TRANSMISSION 
Gearbox6-speed, hydraulic shift
Final driveAll-wheel drive

 

2x mechanical differentials

Active centre differential with torque split options

ClutchDouble plate sintered clutch
SUSPENSION, STEERING & BRAKES 
Front suspensionMacPherson strut
Rear suspensionMacPherson strut
Suspension travelClassified
Steering typeRack and pinion
Braking systemGravel300mm, air and liquid-cooled
Tarmac370mm, air and liquid cooled
DIMENSIONS & WEIGHT 
Length (mm)4,085 (including aero device)
Width (mm)1,875
HeightAdjustable
TrackAdjustable
Wheelbase (mm)2,511
Min. weight (kg)1,190
PERFORMANCE 
AccelerationClassified
Top speed (mph)125 (ratio-specific)

TOYOTA GAZOO RACING WRC TEAM INTRODUCTION

Team management
Team Chairman          Akio Toyoda
Team Principal            Tommi Mäkinen
Team Vice-Principal   Koei Saga

Lead driver/co-driver
Jari-Matti Latvala (lead driver)
Date of birth                3 April 1985 (31)
Nationality                   Finnish

Career highlights
2002                            First WRC rally
2008                            First victory, Uddeholm Swedish Rally
2010, 2014, 2015                Runner-up, WRC Drivers’ Championship

WRC statistics

Starts                        169
Wins                           16
Podiums                      57
Points                         1,310
Stage wins                  466
Miikka Anttila (co-driver)
Date of birth                10 September 1072 (44)
Nationality                   Finnish
Career highlights
1999                            First WRC rally
2008                            First victory, Uddeholm Swedish Rally
2010, 2014, 2015         Runner-up, WRC Drivers’ Championship

WRC statistics
Starts                           180
Wins                            16
Podiums                      57
Stage wins                  466

Juho Hänninen (driver)
Date of birth                25 July 1981 (35)
Nationality                   Finnish
Career highlights
2006                            First WRC rally
2008                            First victory, Rally Russia
2011                            FIA Super 2000 WRC Champion
2012                            FIA European Rally Championship Champion Driver

WRC statistics
Starts                           43
Points                          54
Stage wins                  3

Kaj Lindström (co-driver)
Date of birth                31 July 1969 (47)
Nationality                   Finnish
Career highlights
1996                            First WRC rally
2002                            First victory, Rallye Monte Carlo (with Tommi Mäkinen)

WRC statistics
Starts                           99
Podiums                      5
Stage wins                  28

Esapekka Lappi (test driver)
Date of birth                17 January 1991 (25)
Nationality                   Finnish

Career highlights
2007                            Finnish karting champion
2008                            Rallysprint champion (winner of all season races)
2009                            First rally
2011                            First WRC rally
2013                            First WRC-2 victory, Vodafone Rally de Portugal
2014                            FIA European Rally Championship Champion Driver
2016                            WRC-2 World Rally Champion Driver

WRC-2 statistics
Starts                           17
Wins                            7
Podiums                      11
Points                          245
Stage wins                  126

Janne Ferm (test co-driver)
Date of birth                29 August 1980 (36)
Nationality                   Finnish

Career highlights
2007                            First rally
2011                            First WRC rally
2013                            First WRC-2 victory, Vodafone Rally de Portugal
2014                            FIA European Rally Championship Champion Co-driver
2016                            WRC-2 World Rally Champion Co-driver


Follow Toyota Gazoo Racing WRC

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TOYOTAGAZOORacingWRC
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/TGR_WRC(@TGR_WRC)
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCtALHup92q5xIFb7n9UXVg

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Toyota Returns to the World Rally Championship Revealing Details of the Yaris WRC and Driver Line-up

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