Toyota announces WRC plans

Rally Finland boss joins Toyota?

http://www.hs.fi/m/urheilu/a14507623...6&ref=tw-share

It really seems like its going to be a big Finnish party.

I think all this back and forth with Tommi is just a ruse so that he can announce himself as the driver for 2017.

The way the team shapes up now seems it will be like a private effort with some nobodies in, it will be a miracle if they manage to complete a whole season, IF they enter that is.

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Originally Posted by Rallyper

As Tommi has to handle his money very carefully that option seems to me much more expensive.

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Well on the other hand the worlds biggest car manufactorer chose not to use the state of the art motorsport factory they own themselves(Köln) but went with an option to make the WRC effort in a small garage in Finland with 0 infrastrucure and little knowhow. I`m just saying they have made stranger decisions...

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Originally Posted by AMSS

Well on the other hand the worlds biggest car manufactorer chose not to use the state of the art motorsport factory they own themselves(Köln) but went with an option to make the WRC effort in a small garage in Finland with 0 infrastrucure and little knowhow. I`m just saying they have made stranger decisions...

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Why would Köln be a good rally base?
In Finland they have a unique access to roads for testing just metres from the factory. Its like Ferrari whith its own race track, which was a huge advantage, and ultimatly lead to a very strict ban on testing.

And why is it wrong to hire a very experienced leader of the Finnish motorsport association, the association wich i believe has been instrumental in generating the most motorsport world champions pr capita, and organizing the most successfull WRC round on the calendar?

The Finns are a very clever and recoursfull people that among other things built the worlds largest mobile phone company from almost nothing. Nokia made as large a dent in the universe as apple did years later.
And Finns have something very important called Sisu (and Im not talking about the truck).

Finland is the rally capitol of the World, and I find it very strange that several forum members find it strange to base a rally effort there. :)

Another Nissan.....???

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Originally Posted by Lundefaret

Why would Köln be a good rally base?
In Finland they have a unique access to roads for testing just metres from the factory. Its like Ferrari whith its own race track, which was a huge advantage, and ultimatly lead to a very strict ban on testing.

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Testing advantage is interesting topic and I am not most qualified one to analyze it. I know that M-Sport has it's own test track next to factory and I feel that that is the way every team should go - in addition of having on-site tests on actual roads. But I believe we have more knowledgeable members who can prove me wrong in this subject.

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Originally Posted by Lundefaret

And why is it wrong to hire a very experienced leader of the Finnish motorsport association, the association wich i believe has been instrumental in generating the most motorsport world champions pr capita, and organizing the most successfull WRC round on the calendar?

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In fact, Finnish ASN has relatively little to do with Finnish WRC Champions. Mr Jouhki has done more to this end, as Kankkunen and Makinen (4 titles each) both owe much if not everything to him.

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Originally Posted by Lundefaret

Finland is the rally capitol of the World, and I find it very strange that several forum members find it strange to base a rally effort there. :)

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It was but is no longer as French have taken (or stolen) the scepter from Finns.

[QUOTE=Lundefaret;1075018]Why would Köln be a good rally base?
This is why https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktAOZpKzenM ;)

Okay I'll admit it, I've never run a WRC team. But having Finnish gravel roads on your doorstep is great - if you want to set your car up for Finnish gravel roads.

There's a reason WRC teams test all over Europe, on old stages, in the region of the rally. So I think simply saying they have amazing gravel roads on their doorstep is not enough, and certainly doesn't outweigh all the positives and infrastructure TMG already has set up.

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Originally Posted by Simmi

Okay I'll admit it, I've never run a WRC team. But having Finnish gravel roads on your doorstep is great - if you want to set your car up for Finnish gravel roads.

There's a reason WRC teams test all over Europe, on old stages, in the region of the rally. So I think simply saying they have amazing gravel roads on their doorstep is not enough, and certainly doesn't outweigh all the positives and infrastructure TMG already has set up.

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+1