And remember the hard work was done by Tommi. Now he is overtaking a running business.
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And remember the hard work was done by Tommi. Now he is overtaking a running business.
He will be just a face to interview. Absolutely no experience and will break down in difficult situation
https://www.rallit.fi/tommi-makinen-...lipaallikoksi/
This interview with Tommi is quite interesting and even bitter or harsh. I try to translate it as good as I can
Quote:
Q: Tommi Mäkinen, what thoughts do you have about JML becoming your successor as the team principle?
A: The decision has come from Japan, and that's OK. It will start working, I guess. The team has a good crew continuing. They know the operation. There's plenty of time to jump onto the ride.
Q: JML has some big boots to wear. How do you think he will succeed?
A: Well, the boys will for sure do team work, that I don't think it will be so different. If team work continues like it has so far, there won't be any drama.
Q: Do you believe JML is the right person for the job?
A: I can't comment on that in any ways. Other people have overseen this conclusion. They have analyzed that this is good. I cannot comment whether he is the correct choice or not. How should I know, I haven't thought more about it. Time will tell how it goes. But as I said, they have a good crew. They know what to do.
Q: JML has good reputation in Japan and good contacts with Akio Toyoda?
A: I don't know what's behind the decision.
Q: Have you talked about this with JML
A: Not that much. A few words but not more.
Q: What tips would you give to JML for the job? Which are the first important steps for him in this task?
A: You must get inside first. JML hasnn't been inside the team to see how it all works. You need to go there first to study what the operation means. JML has seen it from the other side of the windscreen.
Sounds very harsh... JML hasn't been "inside" the team?
Might this JML stuff be Japanese response to Makinen losing Tanak?
Also note how vocal Toyoda was that the Yaris (and team?) is "missing something" after Monza.
Why Tommy was replaced was because of his drinking problem*
*Is what I have heard. And for me makes sense to see Kaj so often in TV
I don't know why Toyota would care/ hold THAT much of a grudge about losing Tanak - plus seems like that wasn't a total sporting decision anyway from Tanak etc.
They replaced Tanak and got the current 7x world champion, Evans 2nd in the championship and the hottest prospect in the WRC for a long time in Kalle. Tommi is massively responsible for ALL the success they've had, and they haven't missed Tanak (Kalle vs Sordo/Breen/Loeb is the reason they didnt win the manufactures).
Could more just be a case of trying to cut some of Tommi's control over the whole operation as they move it totally in-house, and maybe the fact that Tommi is not really a good face of a team that hugely values good PR. Jari will be loved by Japan (already is), and is a much warmer and more engaging face of a team.
What I find really strange is that Mäkinen, who is supposed to be the motorsport advisor for the Toyota Company, is saying anything else in public than praising JML for his new appointment. That, for me, definitely tells something. As you can see from the brilliant translation made by AnttiL, Tommi acted (?) like he didn't know about the whole thing and wasn't sure whether JML was the best choice for the role or not. Absolutely incredible. That, in other words, is questioning a decision made by someone higher in the org. chart than you. And - especially when we're talking about a Japanese company - that is quite something. Purely based on today's quotes, I wouldn't predict a lenghty run for Tommi in his new role. We'll see...
:DQuote:
Originally Posted by Allez Andruet
Lots of hand gestures by JML in the short video TGR postedQuote:
Originally Posted by EstWRC
There are a few things that still stand out to me from the end of Tommi's era at the helm:
- The large profit TMR made.
- The lack of an R5/Rally2, even though it seems like it's been talked about for years.
- Losing Tanak as Champion and all the bizarre (possibly untrue) issues talked about, be it Mia Miettinen or whatever the deals was/wasn't with RedGrey and Markko Martin.
- The failure to get the new Yaris WRC launched when the road car version has made such a high profile debut, with marketing based largely on its rally pedigree...
Maybe all irrelevant, but it's pretty clear now Tommi was pushed out for a reason.
finally somebody (also sniper) who can ''read'' deeper at interviews as the last interview few post above.Quote:
Originally Posted by Allez Andruet
Its obvious that Toyoda stopped to trust Makinen.
The reason imho maybe is financial.
Have heard the same + of course other reasons not only that.Quote:
Originally Posted by 371
Some guys are here giving way too much credit to him for all the stuff.
I thought this project failed because of COVID and banning of all testing in the spring for a while?Quote:
Originally Posted by the sniper
Yet Hyundai developed significant upgrades to I20 in the same period, while Toyota seemed to have stood still and then showed up in Estonia with wrong setup.Quote:
Originally Posted by AnttiL
Developing aero parts for a current car is different than making a whole new car. You cannot just focus on one element, everything affects everything. Also the homologation process of the whole car would have taken time. Taking 2(?) months off testing probably just delayed the project too much for them to get it finished in time.
Here some thoughts, blue-black-white (estonian) glasses involved.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mknight
From distance seems, that Tänak had quite good relationship with mr Toyoda. If Toyoda thanked Tommi, he pointed out Tänak's win in Finland as his best emotion. Not Ogier's championship for example.Quote:
Originally Posted by er88
They got Ogier, but Ogier was not dominant like Tänak was.
This was another "read between lines" example for me, that Toyoda may not be happy with replacing Tänak with Ogier or team decisions in general. In that moment they should promote and congratulate Ogier for winning drivers title and Ogier showed that Toyota is winning car... but got "missing something" instead.Quote:
Originally Posted by mknight
Was there any content in Mäkinen's interviews? Just rotating words like absolutely, incredible, brilliant etc. It can be just simple language question.Quote:
Originally Posted by 371
Japan and loyalty - JML has been fan of Toyota, promoting Toyota and has been loyal to Toyota. Maybe is that simple as that. And maybe some loyalty issue with Mäkinen? Comments on JML as new boss were quite harsh and it's hard to believe, that this style will be ignored by Toyoda.
I would be grateful if somebody could explain what JML's actual job (powers and responsibilities) will be. I'm not entirely what is up to him and what is Kaj's decision, or Toyota's.
- Does he decide what drivers they hire?
- Does he decide whether to have a driver rotation system?
- Does he decide who is the third driver in each rally if they do?
- Would he have input into what tyres a driver uses?
- Would he be the one issuing team orders, if it happens?
- Can he fire someone for ignoring them?
- Does he have final say on R&D priorities?
- Anything else he does?
This forums is the only place I've read/heard about Mäkinen and drinking problems. How isn't this more widely known if it is the case?Quote:
Originally Posted by EstWRC
I would say he's among the decision makers, not being a dictator, but with the final responsibility for any decision.Quote:
Originally Posted by Morte66
Also, he will give interviews and be the media person for the team.
I was very surprised to hear this appointment and at first it did not make sense at all because essentially he has no experience and is very emotional, but as I read the forum I start to see some possible reasons:
- they need a shield between the team and the media, a face and for that JML is good, he loves rally and Toyota
- his loyalty to Toyota which is very important to the Japanese
- he understands the technical part and could work as a mediator between drivers and engineers
- the team is set up and working well already (Tommi kept stressing this point too in that interview) so he doesn't need to organize much, just steady the ship and keep the course
As to why Tommi was replaced it could be any of the reasons or some of them together: Tanak relationship, finances, failed car projects, could be drinking - pure speculation - but he was very red faced a couple times in interviews and mumbling his words more than usual.
In the end JML doesn't need to do much actually just work with the team and if i remember correctly he is a good team player so might not be a bad idea after all.
Not hard to do a better job than Makinen in that part.Quote:
Originally Posted by AnttiL
I really hope this works out for JML, I think everyone likes him, he’s a genuine rally enthusiast and he will undoubtedly give everything to succeed at it. I do have a question about how drivers, particularly Ogier might react if he has to impose team orders that don’t benefit him. That said if he’s given the position by Toyoda, his words carry the backing of the corporation so will be hard to ignore.Quote:
Originally Posted by seb_sh
As for Makinen, I hope it’s not alcohol behind this as it’s a terrible affliction. I have personal experience of seeing a loved one fall into the addiction and it’s horrific for all connected.
Jarmo Lehtinen is back in TGR.
He is going to work together with Kaj Lindstöm
Just wait for more info.
https://yle.fi/urheilu/3-11726365 (in finnish)
everybody now going back after Tommi and Mia are "gone" :D (its a half joke if some sensitive Finns didnt get it)
actually about Mia, havent heard antyhing about her role? is she still there?
I don´t know, Mia did own 50% of "Estonian Unit" (and Tommi other 50%) but for sure Mia is also out of TGR.Quote:
Originally Posted by EstWRC
they have changed the livery a little which i didnt expect for the final year for these cars https://twitter.com/TGR_WRC/status/1348905535404445697
Lehtinen back in management role at Toyota
Multi-world rally winner Jarmo Lehtinen has put his pace note book away for the final time to return to Toyota Gazoo Racing as event leader. He talks wrc.com through that decision and what 2021 looks like for him now.
https://www.wrc.com/en/news/season-2...ole-at-toyota/
Microsoft isn´t main sponsor anymore, so no other choice than change.Quote:
Originally Posted by EstWRC
Also "GR" brand must stay "fresh"
all Yaris WRCs still under Estonian plates, but have changed owner and user on 7th of January..
Most likely they changed them from Tommi Mäkinen's Racing to Toyota Gazoo Racing Europe or smth like that..
They still have a TGR spot in Tallinn, where all the WRC cars are maintained.
As I understand belongs to TGR not to Tommi Mäkinen Racing although TMR is regitered by this address.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/To...7!4d24.8265998
Thoughts? https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...e2dff7fe30.jpg
Sent from my CLT-L09 using Tapatalk
While front is somewhat ok the rear is horrible.
Ok they want to make one corner black, but why make the black line straight so it looks like the car is not symmetric? Could have easily just make it a bit curved like the red on the other side (guess curving towards the exhaust).
I don't like it at all
But in the LMP1 car it actually works and I have to say looks really good, on their rally car it looks horrid, I never thought I'd say this but I prefer the previous livery, then again it doesn't matter so much as next year they'll have the uglier car to complete the look, now all hopes rest on Hyundai lol.Quote:
Originally Posted by Andre Oliveira
looks better than the old one IMO but nothing special
I like the front look.
I remember when Citroen changed their livery for 2019 you all despised it but when you saw it on the stages you started liking it. So maybe wait a bit before making judgements :)
I personally don't care at all for car liveries.