All for the Win: Toyota Gazoo Racing Unveil their 2019 Challenge at the Autosport International Show in Birmingham

Reigning World Champions Toyota Gazoo Racing presented their Yaris WRC car and full driver and co-driver squad for the defence of their title in the 2019 FIA World Rally Championship at the Autosport International Show in Birmingham.

This year the team have a British crew in their line-up with new recruits Kris Meeke and his co-driver Seb Marshall. The show, a popular annual curtain-raiser to the motorsport year, marked their first official appearance with the team on home ground.

They join Ott Tänak/Martin Järveoja and Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila, who last year helped Toyota to claim the manufacturers’ title in just the second season of its return to the top flight of international rallying.

Key to last year’s success was the further development of the Yaris WRC throughout the season, using experience gained in previous rallies. These developments have carried through to the start of the 2019 campaign, which will get under way with Rallye Monte-Carlo, from 24 to 27 January.

Tommi Mäkinen, Team Principal, said: “It’s brilliant to return to the show for the launch of the new season as reigning champions. We know that a lot of fans in the UK in particular have been very excited about Kris and Seb joining our team, so this is quite a fitting place for us to start the year.

“What we were able to achieve last year was incredible, thanks to the hard work of the whole team to constantly improve the Yaris WRC. We start this year with the same successful package but we keep on working to make a better car. Now we want to defend our manufacturers’ title while also winning the drivers’ championship. It will not be easy, because we will face even stronger competition, but everybody is confident of a good season.”

Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team will be inspired throughout the 2019 season by the motto ALL FOR THE WIN. Their goal is to fight for all three championship titles on offer.

ENDS