Toyota announces WRC plans

Toyota arnt coming to the party as they think the regs have gone the wrong way and that it was the European manufacturers who were pushing for 1.6 turbos. Toyota want(ed) to build a car to S2000 regs so that they could use the motor in a touring car as well.

But touring cars (WTCC) are also going to use same 1.6T engine.

sal, source?

The story is in this weeks Autosport magazine in the UK. Senior Toyota guy who's name I dont have with me here, is quoted as saying that after their experiences in F1 any future Toyota motorsport programme will have to generate income thru customer sales. He states that it is their view that the European manufacturers pushed for 1.6 turbo engines in the WRC as that suited the situation in their major markets i.e the move the small turbo engines for emmisions reasons but that this requirment was not mirrored in Japan. Toyota wanted to build a car to S2000 regs so that the engine could also be used in a future touring car project The article goes on to mention that a sportscar programme is looking more and more likely.

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Originally Posted by sal

The story is in this weeks Autosport magazine in the UK. Senior Toyota guy who's name I dont have with me here, is quoted as saying that after their experiences in F1 any future Toyota motorsport programme will have to generate income thru customer sales. He states that it is their view that the European manufacturers pushed for 1.6 turbo engines in the WRC as that suited the situation in their major markets i.e the move the small turbo engines for emmisions reasons but that this requirment was not mirrored in Japan. Toyota wanted to build a car to S2000 regs so that the engine could also be used in a future touring car project The article goes on to mention that a sportscar programme is looking more and more likely.

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Hiromi Hayashi General Manager Toyota Motorsport "one condition is that the programme has to be profitable"

The article also says Cologne prefers a S2000 rally/touring car project, Japan favour a GT2 programme.

Decision due end of October.

Its really odd Toyota would barf on the thought of a 1.6l turbo engine, but might prefer a V8 or V10 sportscar programe. This coming from the manufacturer of the holier than thou Pious ecobox.

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Originally Posted by bt52b

Hiromi Hayashi General Manager Toyota Motorsport "one condition is that the programme has to be profitable"

The article also says Cologne prefers a S2000 rally/touring car project, Japan favour a GT2 programme.

Decision due end of October.

Its really odd Toyota would barf on the thought of a 1.6l turbo engine, but might prefer a V8 or V10 sportscar programe. This coming from the manufacturer of the holier than thou Pious ecobox.

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If profit is a part of the deal, rally will win. GT2 can never make the nubers produced as in rally.

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Originally Posted by Sulland

If profit is a part of the deal, rally will win. GT2 can never make the nubers produced as in rally.

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GT2, GT3 and GT4 are pretty strong. They could sell shedloads of cars to customers of these classes. Just look at the sales of Porsche and Audi GT3 cars.

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Originally Posted by bt52b

GT2, GT3 and GT4 are pretty strong. They could sell shedloads of cars to customers of these classes. Just look at the sales of Porsche and Audi GT3 cars.

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Yeah, exactly, and remember the US market, especially for the ALMS. Up against Corvette, Porsche, Ferrari.......

I don't know, in my opinion, F1 or Sports car racing doesn't suit the image of Toyota at all (same goes for VW). Both one of the worlds biggest brands of masses production cars.

Therefore I think they should relate their road cars to motorsport, instead of these kind of projects where the customer can't identify with at all.

Official partnership between Toyota Motorsport(engine supplyer)and swiss team Rebellion Racing the the 2011 endurance racing program !!!! Smells a future coming back of Toy' at Le Mans some year...cool :cool: