Toyota announces WRC plans

[Andre Oliveira]

And the crap that the team made with Armindo Araújo

[Motorsportfun]

So, Italian rumour was not that crazy...

[ilsit]

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/wrc/t ... nstruction

Could we finally see the return of Toyota?

[PLuto]

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/wrc/toyota-yaris-world-rally-car-under-construction

Could we finally see the return of Toyota?

One year old info... (http://www.autosport.cz/clanek.php?cl=14053 or http://www.autosport.cz/clanek.php?cl=13553)

[makinen_fan]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/111749

Toyota's return to the World Rally Championship has taken a step closer with the news that it will build a Yaris World Rally Car next year.

The Japanese firm's Cologne-based motorsport arm TMG confirmed the Yaris WRC would be up and running in 2014.

A company spokesman said: "From TMG, we are very much interested in coming back to the World Rally Championship.

"We start testing the Yaris World Rally Car next year, running it with our 1.6-litre turbo engine.

"This will be a pretty low-key programme, run in order for us to gain experience of the car and to refresh and build our knowledge base on the technical side of running a World Rally Car."

The car is believed to be in build at the moment but there is no firm decision on a competition programme.

Pascal Vasselon, technical director of Toyota's LMP1 operation, said: "We have not decided on the time of our WRC entry."

Didier Auriol, Toyota, Safari WRC 1998
The Toyota spokesman added that while there had been no formal green light for a WRC return, it was "reasonable" to say it would go ahead.

"The decision ultimate lies with Japan and, at the moment, there is no concrete request or fixed plan, but it is something we hope will happen.

"To say this is on the horizon seems reasonable."

Toyota last competed in the WRC's top flight in 1999, with the Corolla WRC (pictured).

It has recently returned at a class level with the Yaris R1, while an R3-based GT86 CS-R3 will arrive in 2015.

[RS]

It is really good news that manufacturers are becoming interested in WRC again, but why? Is it because the new regulations are cheaper, or that it is a much cheaper global sport than F1? It can't be because the promotion or visibility of the series is good!

[Rallyper]

WRC has gone from expensive and rare one offs in Gr B to standard world cars with 1,6 litre engines. Which most of the brands has as model. No rocket science needed to have a ground to build on. The formula seems to work in right direction.

[er88]

It is really good news that manufacturers are becoming interested in WRC again, but why? Is it because the new regulations are cheaper, or that it is a much cheaper global sport than F1? It can't be because the promotion or visibility of the series is good!

Makes you wonder what WRC could potentially be like with quality exposure and live tv if manufacturers are still interested in joining as things are now...! WRC is a sleeping giant help back by the incompetent shambles that is the fia

[PLuto]

WRC is a sleeping giant help back by the incompetent shambles that is the fia

And dont forget Red Bull Media House, which are still much worse than in last years terrible NOS...

[er88]

WRC is a sleeping giant help back by the incompetent shambles that is the fia

And dont forget Red Bull Media House, which are still much worse than in last years terrible NOS...

Yeah absolutely. I expected red bull media house to be alot better than they have been so far.

So it almost seems Toyota's plan is to let TMG develop the yaris and get it up and running on the stages, then if the car has potential and is pretty competitive out of the blocks Toyota will become involved fully and plunge in money? And if the car is terrible Toyota will cut all ties and not bother with manufacturer support or what ? Toyota seem really wary of new motorsport ventures after F1 disaster...