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At the time the decision to run the team this way made no sense and nothing since that point has changed.
The reason there have been a lot of critical eyes cast at the project is not because people are looking for it to fail. It''s because rally fans NEED it to be a success.
It's a long time since a non-works team was truly successful in rallying. I suppose you'd have to look back to the Gronholm/Ford era or before that Prodrive Subaru or Mitsubishi.
Very good point. Anyone who loves the sport should want this to be a success.Quote:
Originally Posted by Simmi
Some said something "Exiting News" from Petter after Wales. Testdriver for tommi/Toyota?
Dakar in 2017 for Toyota is almost secure, maybe a parttime comeback in wrc too?
Probably Yaris RX campaign & WRC testing.
Petter still has a good PR name in Japan, so this is a good move on several levels from Toyota!
On WRC:
Will be very, very surprised if the Tommi led Rally-Gazoo operation will get full factory support and coop from the German based Yaris project.
If not, heads will be sacked from Germany by the top dog in Japan!
any Finn mate to enlight us?
Teemu / Rallirinki @HartusvuoriWRC
According to this, Toyota has cut budget from TMG's #YarisWRC project. Their 2017-spec car to museum: http://yle.fi/urheilu/tommi_makinen_...ettiin/8456529 … @MiikaWuorela
http://yle.fi/urheilu/tommi_makinen_...ettiin/8456529
Not a surprise really then that relationships have completely broken down between the two Toyota factions. Makinen basically said the car TMG have been developing for two years is garbage. Now he's saying their engine is not up to task and is looking elsewhere.
Why were Toyota still giving any budget at all to this TMG project? Someone, somewhere has funded a two-year stillborn museum piece in the Yaris WRC. Just an unbelievable waste of everyone's time.
No, Tommi didn’t say its garbage. TMG started to develop the car long time before the 2017 regulations were defined. Of course the manufacturers know more before the regulations are published but I don’t think there was much to know two years ago. I’m not an expert but even the engine specification changes that much that there’s a lot of testing ahead.
At some phase Tommi considered also to have some kind of operation also in central Europe. That’s a thing I would do. The development can be anywhere but logistically it would be easier to have the operative activities somewhere in central Europe.
Keeping the headquarters in Jyväskylä has the advantage for gravel testing. By the WRC sporting regulations (http://www.fia.com/regulations/regul...lltext=&page=1 , page 51) in the country where the WRC team is registered they can test more.
66. TESTING
66.1 PERMITTED TESTING SITES
For Manufacturers or WRC Teams registered in the Championship, testing (as defined in Art. 2.20) is permitted:
66.1.1 On a permanent testing site proposed by the Manufacturer or WRC Team before its first rally of the year and notified to the FIA. The permanent testing site must be located in the country where the Manufacturer or WRC Team rally cars are registered.
66.1.2 During a calendar year, a P1 driver may use only one permanent testing site.
66.1.3 In Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and UK.
66.3.2 In the case of a Manufacturer, a maximum of 42 days in any calendar year. This clause does not apply to testing as stated in Art. 66.1.1.
Some kind of translation.
Toyota suddenly withdraw the budget from the TMG wrc project when Toyota realized there was two separate projects going on.
The media representative Tatsuo Horikawa from Toyota still deny this has happened.
The rumours that TMG wouldn’t still be involved is wrong. TMG co-operate with Tommi mainly with the engine development as they have done until now. Our aim is to build a strong Toyota Gazoo Racing lead by Tommi, Horikawa tells YLE Urheilu (YLE sport).
Tommi has been unsatisfied with the engine co-operation with TMG and explored possibilities to co-operate with the French engine tuner Pipo Moteurs but Pipo Moteurs develop Hyundai’s wrc engine with exclusive rights.
I’ve heard the rumour about Tommi asking for engine development from Pipo Moteurs but in WRC they develop engines only for us, says Nandan.
.
H
If Pipo is a no-go, what tuning firm could get the job done best?
would be very surprized if he could not build up this capacity in Finland or Sweden!
Mountune,Cosworth maybe Toyota Racing Developments(America).
And also Tom's.
Some news from Toyota:
http://www.wrc.com/en/wrc/news/decem...5--12-12-.html
It puts a few rumours to bed. Good to see some positive news come out of the Toyota camp as a lot of fans were starting to either get worried or lose faith.
Full Q&A: http://justpaste.it/pfzi
I guess we'll never know how much of that TMG Yaris finds it's way into the works car. There's probably already enough to write a book about the whole situation.
All we have left are the hours upon hours of YouTube footage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gl8vbqwZ7mo
Finally some news! I was starting to get worried a little bit. I wonder who the drivers are they are negotiating with,I imagine one being latvala.
He is the ideal driver for them. Finn, a lot of experience, the only one that matches Ogier's speed, a contract ending next year and Skodas driver ready to debut in the WRC in one of the three Polos.Quote:
Originally Posted by EstWRC
On the contrary I don't know if Toyota is a good choice for Jari Matti. I think he will consider it if it will be the only choice. Very much will depend on what will happen on 2016.
I've read the articles regarding Toyota, good to have some news from them.
The only sentence that let me some doubts is: "You don't need to have the biggest budget or team in order to win. The most important thing is relaxing and enjoying the experience."
mmmm, are you sure Tommi?
Really hope Latvala jumps to Toyota. He has to try and do something different. How many people think he actually has a chance against Ogier in equal machinery?
But it's really an unknown who will drive these Yaris WRCs. 2017 driver market will be the really interesting one. Almost everyone available.
Hirvonen (and Jarmo) should get out there and do some of the testing.
Mads Østberg has a 1 year deal, as he want do be in position before 2017 season.
He admitted in an intervju that he is in talks with Toyota too.
That's enough Mads! Too much him everywhere! :p
Does TMG has a substitute for Camilli? Or will they continue with the current test-drivers (Lindholm, Suninen, Sarrazin...)?
I hope Suninen will be driver in 2017. Already plans for Suninen in 2016?
In terms of WRC machinery TMG don't have anything to test now they've been ordered to stop running the Yaris by Toyota top brass. It's now a stillborn 24-month tested museum piece. Only the CS-R3 car remains.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jasper
I doubt Makinen would want such inexperienced guys doing the factory Gazoo testing come spring.
Not sure honestly whether TMG will continue to back Suninen. He seemed to think so but not sure what they get out of it. Hopefully 2016 will be a big year for him in WRC2.
"I doubt Makinen would want such inexperienced guys doing the factory Gazoo testing come spring."
I think Lindholm is a proved test driver, as he has done a lot of work previously for Peugeot and Ford i believe.
Sorry was referring to Suninen in my post regarding test drivers. Certainly well aware of Lindholm.Quote:
Originally Posted by rage82
Great news if it comes off... Meeke to Toyota:
http://m.autosport.com/news/report.p...oyota-wrc-deal
Huge news if that happens. Love it!
i still worry about the Toyota project.
Now they still design the car,and at 3-4 months will be ready for testing?
and at December will be ready for homologation,and have done all testing?
hmmm very tight scedule...
If Meeke go to Toyota,i will be curious to see who will drive for Citroen at 2017 when they want to return with aiming for the championship.
I'd have a guess at Thierry moving to DS and Paddon being promoted within Hyundai if all goes to plan.Quote:
Originally Posted by dimviii
Well, this gonna happen in 2017:
Ogier to Citroen after WDC in 2016. Lefebvre 2nd car.
Latvala stays at VW, Mikkelsen as well. Pontus too be 3rd VW
Meeke Suninen and Bergkvist in Toyota
Huyndai and Ford remains quite all the same
you went full GiggiGalliNo1 man... never go full GiggiGalliNo1.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rallyper
Me too, but he's in a strong position with his contract being up. A year ago he could have worried about the end of it, but if he has his 'usual' season next year he'll have his choice from at least Toyota and Citroen, you'd imagine, whilst Hyundai wouldn't be out of the picture if any of their drivers go elsewhere and I'm sure Malcolm would give him a shot if no-one else would do anyway.Quote:
Originally Posted by Simmi
That is not full GigiGalli, Per has 1 right (Mikkelsen has contract for 2017)Quote:
Originally Posted by N.O.T
Makinen announcement it's great to give some faith to all those Gazzo Racing/TMR non believers. It's true that TMG PR's added some excused noise, but there's no doubt Makinen is able to do a great job and Toyota will be a strong player in WRC. Looking forward to 2017!
Just saw something about Meeke in talks with TMG
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Still lots of confusion on the media over TMG role, but it's now very clear: TMG is just an external (engine) supplier to Gazoo/TMR WRC team.Quote:
Originally Posted by mousti
http://www.maxrally.com/2015/12/04/tommi-talks-turkey
Similar answers published else where do basically a written press release to use within one company with many publications...
Tommi need to do something here to clarify confusion:
Find a new name for the Toyota Rally Team. We have Gazoo Racing, TMG and TMR that might have diifferent or double roles.
But the team needs a name!
TRT (Toyota Rally Team) is a good name!
If Meeke comes onboard, Tommi should put him in the GT86 R3, and quickly put a R5 car together, so they can start collecting data.
Meeke would love the GT86, and just drive for fun! What a commercial masterpiece that would be for that car!!
TRT = Turkish Radio Television :)
pls ignore my lack of knowledge...
does the GT86 fit with 2017 regulations? any chance Toyota will build that car instead of Yaris?