Toyota announces WRC plans

It seems it was an entertaining afternoon…

Seriously: the most important thing on Makinen’s Yaris tests is that he managed to make a technical structure from almost nothing and sort out a new car only 8 months after Toyoda green light.

Toyota Gazoo is now almost at the same schedule as Citroen on the ’17 car development, ahead of Hyundai and MSport. They’ve enough time to get it competitive for ’17 MC Rally and choose a strong drivers line up.

As any other real rally fan, I’m delighted to see Toyota getting to WRC’s frontline once more. Best luck to them.

Toyota were testing with #2 car in Clermont-Ferrand area (France) this hole week.
No clue abot the driver(s), because Juho, Mikko and Tommi were all in Finland.
(#1 car was same time tested in Finland)
#2 car is traveling to Spain now...

Its no doubt it going to be an interesting silly season before '17, lots of drivers ready to change teams, more cars availible and hopefully some New talents get the change to break in!

Silly seasons are always interesting... Mostly speculation, granted, but still.

It always takes me a month or two before I become adjusted to who is in what team as well. Next year is going to be hell hahahaha

This one looks quite silly already, how it could be worse?

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Originally Posted by stefanvv

This one looks quite silly already, how it could be worse?

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I think it was quite a surprise to quite a few people (me included) that all the VW drivers had contracts beyond this year. I thought that basically every top driver apart from Mikkelsen would need to sign a new deal ahead of '17. But that was not the case. So I guess in that sense it could have been more silly - plus Meeke and Paddon signed early.

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Originally Posted by Simmi

I think it was quite a surprise to quite a few people (me included) that all the VW drivers had contracts beyond this year. I thought that basically every top driver apart from Mikkelsen would need to sign a new deal ahead of '17. But that was not the case. So I guess in that sense it could have been more silly - plus Meeke and Paddon signed early.

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I guess I'm not surprised if they did it in the meantime. Ogier is not surprise the least, Latvala I guess won't go from VW if he himself doesn't want to, obviously he doesn't and why should he? Bad first few races of the year, but is it much different from any previous one?

It is way too early to judge Toyota. Look back into history and see where Toyota started their first rally team. They sought the services of a Scandinavian guy to get things started and worked with Ove Andersson for many years, including after they bought out his successful operation. Then look at how Japanese companies operate and maybe you can recognise the start of something big. Irrespective of the views of some of the cynics Toyota will not allow this to fail. Allow three years for success. Everything that hyundai and vw have achieved Toyota will achieve. Great to see another giant in the WRC

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Originally Posted by bowler

It is way too early to judge Toyota. Look back into history and see where Toyota started their first rally team. They sought the services of a Scandinavian guy to get things started and worked with Ove Andersson for many years, including after they bought out his successful operation. Then look at how Japanese companies operate and maybe you can recognise the start of something big. Irrespective of the views of some of the cynics Toyota will not allow this to fail. Allow three years for success. Everything that hyundai and vw have achieved Toyota will achieve. Great to see another giant in the WRC

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Application of 1980s tactics for success in 2016.... what can possibly go wrong eh?

I doubt Toyota will be concerned by your opinion NOT. They will care about things that matter