TOYOTA GAZOO Racing WRT

[Rallyper]

And remember the hard work was done by Tommi. Now he is overtaking a running business.

[371]

He will be just a face to interview. Absolutely no experience and will break down in difficult situation

[AnttiL]

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

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.

[mknight]

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.

[371]

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

[er88]

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.

[Allez Andruet]

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...

[AnttiL]

Absolutely incredible.

[KiwiWRCfan]

Colin Clark please

that would be fun, him explaining the things with his hand gestures

Lots of hand gestures by JML in the short video TGR posted

[the sniper]

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.