I agree..
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I agree..
My local newsagent told me the issue won't be here until 12th! The joys of living 'up country', I suppose!! Perhaps some Tokyo-based forumer can pick up a copy, today.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rally Hokkaido
As we are approaching the Japanese equivalent of All Souls Day this weekend, I don't expect any official announcement from Toyota, this week. However, I wouldn't be surprised if there were joint announcements in Germany and Japan next week during or just before Rally Germany.
My colleague follows all the WTCC season from the circuits, and he said it's possible to see Subaru for the first time in a works programme on track (WTCC) and Toyota in rallying, sharing the chassis and the engine of the FT-86 project.Quote:
Originally Posted by vino_93
Like Raikkonen says: wait and see. :D
I won't be convinced about this news on Toyota's return to WRC until it's official. However, based on all the news coming out in last couple weeks in Japan, it is definitely true that Toyota is considering a return to a major international motorsport scene and WRC is one of the candidates, perhaps a strong candidate. And as far as I know, Toyota is interested in the form of motorsports in which they can promote their specific road model. I read somewhere that Toyota is not interested in prototype racing at the moment.
Now Subaru is under Toyota management, so I don't think there won't be Subaru return if Toyota does but Toyota can return under the Subaru brand.
Since when has Subaru been under Toyota management? :confused:
Probably about a year now? maybe 18 months.Quote:
Originally Posted by serial jeff
Toyota bought a substantial amount of FHI, but from memory I think it was less than 50%.
Closer to around or just above 40% now
I know Toyota bought about 17% of FHI from GM.Quote:
Originally Posted by ProRally
Buying more and more slowly... now at just 40% or just over....Quote:
Originally Posted by Motorsportfun
Hello Rally Hokkaido.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rally Hokkaido
Do you have more news for us about Toyota?
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.
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.
At least currently prepared FT-86 is anything but family vehicle and would need different kind of marketing tools ;)
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by serial jeff
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.
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by RICARDO75
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.
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.
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.
VW or VAG are busy running the Skoda IRC team so doubt we'll see VW in the WRC. More likely Skoda againQuote:
Originally Posted by AndyRAC
VW Motorsport led by Kris Nissen has nothing to see/do with Skoda IRC or S2000 campaign.Quote:
Originally Posted by 306 Cosworth
Maybe both will do it.
PSA group has Peugeot Sport and Citroën Sport also.... so VAG group could do similar....
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...
Did not PSA announce a few months ago that Peugeot will focus on track racing and Citroen in rally?Quote:
Originally Posted by ProRally
Skoda and Seat were involved at wrc at the same time until 2000.Quote:
Originally Posted by 'Mirek Fric [Cze
But I also know that was in the days when there was more money
VW is working on 1.6T engine for 2012 so maybe it can be also WRC version..
Anymore pics of that Toyota WRC prototype from that magazine
Only a larger one of the same photo on the front cover. It's not a prototype - just a photoshop job based on a photo of the standard next generation Auris.
There's a photo of a standard next generation Auris at the same angle in the article.
Recent posts on this thread have discussed two more points that were in the article. Best Car sugggested that while the Toyota brand would be used in WRC, the Lexus brand would be used in any racing programme (FIA-GT, DTM or Le Mans Series). However, the Toyota spokesman they met stated that the idea of joining the FIA-GT (DTM? Le Mans Series?) had been dismissed as it was not a well known category (by their customer base).
The article then continued about the target market for the Auris (=mainly Europe) and their main rival there, which is VW and its Golf model. It speculated that VW could announce its own WRC programme as early as next week's Rally of Germany. And while the new downsized WRCar regs would seem to suit VW's Polo model, from a marketing point of view the Golf would make better sense as their WRC base car, according to Best Car.
In summary, we have seen before where a car maker's marketing people decide the choice of WRC car (307CC!), not their engineers or competition department and it looks like it will be no different in Toyota's (and VW's?) case.
Could you scan the larger one for me please
Plus I remember someone important from PSA saying that Peugeot and Citroen will NEVER compete against each others in rallying again.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tomi
But how about privateers or satellite teams.... in case PSA builds a suitable Peugeot ??
Not sure, but I belive there wont be any Peugeot rallycars after a while (after 1 year or so), only track racing Peugeots.Quote:
Originally Posted by A.F.F.
I guess in the PSA case it would depend on whether you could buy the PSA 1.6T engine from the DS3 model on its own and then put it into the 207 shell? But I struggle to think why you'd bother really.
I hope that some Turan in Peugeot will destroy some works Finns next year.. xd
Only in RallyCross.Quote:
Originally Posted by I am evil Homer
I wonder why you didn`t want him to replace any Finns, Brits or any other team drivers after rallly Portugal? After all he was so close humiliate most of the S2000 drivers.Quote:
Originally Posted by Barreis
Anymore news regarding Toyotas plans?
http://www.rallye-magazin.de/r/wm/d/...wrc/index.htmlQuote:
Originally Posted by J.Lindstroem
Short Version: they waiting for the decision from japan.
If Toyota were to use the Yaris in the WRC, it would likely be the next generation one, not the current Yaris. The next gen Yaris, might as well have the waiver, as the next one might use a bunch of the current cars bodywork. A Yaris WRCar wouldn't be so bad afterall. I don't think the Auris would work that well.
Not long enough to fit the regulations.Quote:
Originally Posted by rallyfan2003
The next gen Yaris might gain a little bit in size.
http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsAr...-Yaris/251859/
This Yaris mule is noticeably bigger than the current one. This would make it perfect for the WRC.
This new 'rush' is like how it was in 1997 when the world rally car rules came into play.
Loads of manufacturers get involved, then over time they drop out one by one. When they realise that these over priced custom made hidious body kitted rally cars have no connection with the road cars that are sold.
There were lots of 2wd teams in the beginning of the grp A era but the last one (Nissan) disappeared by the end of 1992. By the numbers 1999 – 2005 was the best era in WRC if counting teams attended.Quote:
Originally Posted by navtheace
1987: 11 teams (3 4wd)
1988: 9 teams (3 4wd)
1989: 9 teams (4 4wd)
1990: 9 teams (6 4wd)
1991: 7 teams (6 4wd)
1992: 6 teams (5 4wd)
1993: 5 teams, all 4wd
1994: 4 teams, all 4wd
1995: 4 teams, all 4wd
1996: 3 teams, all 4wd
1997: 4 teams, all 4wd
1998: 5 teams, all 4wd
1999: 7 teams, all 4wd
2000: 7 teams, all 4wd
2001: 7 teams, all 4wd
2002: 7 teams, all 4wd
2003: 6 teams, all 4wd
2004: 6 teams, all 4wd
2005: 6 teams, all 4wd
2006: 6 teams, 5 makes, all 4wd
2007: 6 teams, 5 makes, all 4wd
2008: 6 teams, 4 makes, all 4wd
2009: 5 teams, 2 makes, all 4wd
I wish rally cars would be based on legitimate sportscars :( I really don't want to see a Yaris WRC... seriously, the Yaris is made for parents to haul their kids to the grocery store. I have the same complaint about the Fiesta. If only they'd sell a higher powered 4wd version like the wrx.Quote:
Originally Posted by rallyfan2003