Toyota announces WRC plans

[Voice of Rally]

Hi Guys,

We talked about Toyota on last nights Totalrally show. It seems all the WRC talk is a little premature. The gentleman from Toyota who made the remarks did so off the cuff and was apparently seriously reprimanded by his bosses. I'm told he's a big fan of TTE and there was a degree of self interest in what he said. Officially Toyota are still considering their options and have made no final decision on when and where they may return to motorsport.

[serial jeff]

Wow I had still thought the 17% they bought from GM was all they owned. I hope they don't take over completely.

Anyway, I'd be a bit surprised to see Toyota back in the wrc because to me, rally fans don't seem like any of their target markets. Though I like in North America where nobody really follows the WRC anyway so who knows. Maybe it's different in Europe. Over here they are seen as the quintessential family vehicle, and all their marketing indicates that they're trying to keep it that way.

[Mirek]

At least currently prepared FT-86 is anything but family vehicle and would need different kind of marketing tools

[Tomi]

Wow I had still thought the 17% they bought from GM was all they owned. I hope they don't take over completely.

Anyway, I'd be a bit surprised to see Toyota back in the wrc because to me, rally fans don't seem like any of their target markets. Though I like in North America where nobody really follows the WRC anyway so who knows. Maybe it's different in Europe. Over here they are seen as the quintessential family vehicle, and all their marketing indicates that they're trying to keep it that way.

Can well be that they are looking for other markets with a WRC campaign, they have a great history in rallying, not many can beat what they have acchived.
I belive that they are looking for growth elsewhere, now that they got their share of the car industry protectionism in usa, their strategy might change.

[Rally Hokkaido]

Hello Rally Hokkaido.
Do you have more news for us about Toyota?

Yes, I finally found a copy, today. As per the graphics on the front cover photo I posted at the start of this thread, Toyota's WRC return is one of three 'scoops' in this issue. The others are about a Nissan GT-R Cup car uncovered at a secret test and a planned replacement for the Toyota Altessa (Lexus LS250?), which will be a four-door version of the Subaru-engineered FT-86. This last article ties in with the Toyota WRC one as it casts doubt about the marketing success of building a non-turbo RWD sports car (hence the plan to sell a second model based on the same floorpan). Though the FT-86 debut has already been pushed back a year to the last quarter of next year, Best Car speculates that it will be more likely 2013, if at all.

That rules out using the FT-86 as a base car if Toyota plans to return to WRC in 2012. Much of the three-page article about Toyota's return to WRC is devoted to reinforcing the magazine's speculation that their base car will be the next generation Auris (the WRC mock-up on the magazine cover), which is due to be released next year. Here are the other main points I've found in the article:

Best Car asked a Toyota spokesman about their return to WRC and was told it is 100% certain

Toyota's international motorsport plans will now not be announced until September (at Rally Japan?)

No decision has been made as to whether the WRC Team will be an in-house operation (TTE?) or sub-contracted to a private team

So, nothing official from Toyota, yet. However, based on this article (Best Car magazine specialises in new car scoops with a strong reputation for accuracy, so they obviously have good sources within the car companies), the official Toyota leak in July about their return to international motorsport and the visit to Rally Portugal by the Toyota VIPs, I'd say there's a 95% chance we will see a Toyota WRCar competing in 2012.

[Maui J.]

Hey Hokkaido,

Thanks for the info. That news sounds very promising. Hopefully their sources are good and we will see the Auris WRC testing in 2011 and a full campaign in 2012.

[HaCo]

WRC or FIA GT1?
http://www.gt1world.com/news/article...nked-with-gt1-

Funny how easy GT1 World Championship can fill a field compared to WRC.

[306 Cosworth]

While I really hope all these stories are true, call me cynical, isn’t it funny they’re all happening at the same time? I hope they’re not all put out by NorthOne.
However;

Ford,
Citroen,
Mini,
Toyota,
VW,
Saab,

With maybe 2-4 factory seats per team, thing could be looking up.

VW or VAG are busy running the Skoda IRC team so doubt we'll see VW in the WRC. More likely Skoda again

[ProRally]

VW or VAG are busy running the Skoda IRC team so doubt we'll see VW in the WRC. More likely Skoda again

VW Motorsport led by Kris Nissen has nothing to see/do with Skoda IRC or S2000 campaign.

Maybe both will do it.

PSA group has Peugeot Sport and Citroën Sport also.... so VAG group could do similar....

[Mirek]

Skoda is doing only what VAG allows and wants. VAG doesn't need two brands doing the same and it won't have them. Just my opinion...