[WRC] News & rumours (part II)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JFL

not my kind of sport.. Could'nt care less.. I think Marcus is still to young and quick for it.. ;)

---

Only people who've never been involved in this sport can say such things... And next year it's gonna be only better with merger of bajas and rally-raids. And presence of people such as Sainz and Al-Attiyah, only proves this point.

TMG President Mr.Kinosita spoke to Autosports Japan about the recent rumors of Toyota's return to the WRC, and he says it is difficult for Toyota to enter WRC as a works team at the moment but it is more realistic for them to develop the car for the customers to run their WRC program.

Although Prodrive has gone with Mini, I think that's where the rumor about Toyota approching Prodrive came from. Prodrive is not an option for them, so who's there to run Toyota WRC program?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by koko0703

TMG President Mr.Kinosita spoke to Autosports Japan about the recent rumors of Toyota's return to the WRC, and he says it is difficult for Toyota to enter WRC as a works team at the moment but it is more realistic for them to develop the car for the customers to run their WRC program.

Although Prodrive has gone with Mini, I think that's where the rumor about Toyota approching Prodrive came from. Prodrive is not an option for them, so who's there to run Toyota WRC program?

---

Tomi Makkinen racing?


Bozian (with a boatload of cash to expand?)?
Kronos (assuming they could be lured from PSA affiliation)?
Seems that TRD Australia did a decent job with their S2000, maybe a combination of smaller teams with a lot of engineering
assistance and some meaningful cash from Toyota?
Take the former RalliArt group and re-assemble that?

Who was it again that ran the Red Bull Skoda's? Same company but better team management?

Baumschlager racing run the Red Bull Skoda's

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by koko0703

TMG President Mr.Kinosita spoke to Autosports Japan about the recent rumors of Toyota's return to the WRC, and he says it is difficult for Toyota to enter WRC as a works team at the moment but it is more realistic for them to develop the car for the customers to run their WRC program.

Although Prodrive has gone with Mini, I think that's where the rumor about Toyota approching Prodrive came from. Prodrive is not an option for them, so who's there to run Toyota WRC program?

---

koko0703, did you see the article in the latest issue of Holiday Auto? In it they speculate that TMG Engineering (Toyota's F1 team operation) could do it.
There are also lots of details on the Toyota-Subaru FT-86 model - a test mule has been running at Nurburgring, apparently. Toyota's version now looks set to be launched late next year, not this year. There's also talk about Subaru tie-up with Cosworth for a WRC comeback with their version. I was unsure how much was the journalist's speculation and how much was news scoop!

If the project ever takes off, my guess is that its Mäkinen's job, many things speaks for that, long experience to work with Japanese people and the GrN Subaru project went well too, maybe in a few weeks we hear more, who knows maybe all involved are now in Jyväskylä :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Rally Hokkaido

koko0703, did you see the article in the latest issue of Holiday Auto? In it they speculate that TMG Engineering (Toyota's F1 team operation) could do it.
There are also lots of details on the Toyota-Subaru FT-86 model - a test mule has been running at Nurburgring, apparently. Toyota's version now looks set to be launched late next year, not this year. There's also talk about Subaru tie-up with Cosworth for a WRC comeback with their version. I was unsure how much was the journalist's speculation and how much was news scoop!

---

Please, do you have link? I can´t find it. :( Thank you.

http://www.worldrallyranking.com/ran...&Tipo=1&Home=1
The new rally drivers ranking list. also ranking among co drivers, rally cars, rally countries

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by alleskids

http://www.worldrallyranking.com/ran...&Tipo=1&Home=1
The new rally drivers ranking list

---

quite amusing reading

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Tomi

If the project ever takes off, my guess is that its Mäkinen's job, many things speaks for that, long experience to work with Japanese people and the GrN Subaru project went well too, maybe in a few weeks we hear more, who knows maybe all involved are now in Jyväskylä :)

---

I thought Tommi Makinen's business was close to folding? OR did I just imagine that.
I think it would be great to have Tommi head a WRC team. He certainly knows how to drive, from all accounts from other drivers he's a pretty decent bloke and obviously must still have the passion for the sport (by running a business).
Perhaps hes not the same as DR in terms of marketing, but still id love to see him back on the WRC circuit.