TOYOTA GAZOO Racing WRT

[AnttiL]

I think the rules state that a driver can't score points for both the main team and the satellite team within the same season. Thus Toyota wouldn't have a "NG Team" in 2024 at all, Katsuta would be just driving a fourth non-scoring car in Ogier's rallies.

[WRCfi]

https://www.mtvuutiset.fi/artikkeli/...eeseen/8574484

EP talks about his time at Toyota. Says he was being pushed around because Seb couldn't make up his mind and it wasn't always clear which rounds EP was allowed to drive.

For example regarding Safari it went like this: at first Seb was willing to drive, then it was EP who should've been there and then when all the plans were in place already Seb suddenly changed his mind again.

Apparently it would've been more or less the same story next year because in TV he said he wasn't offered any specific number of events by Toyota.

https://www.mtvuutiset.fi/artikkeli/...ttavaa/8574432

More of EP's thoughts here. Reveals that there was even an end-of-career party organized at Jyväskylä in December 2020 when he thought he was done in WRC. And btw his first Hyundai test is scheduled on Wednesday.

https://www.rallit.fi/lapin-loikka-v...an-tarjouksen/

Latvala states the obvious. When full season at Hyundai was in play for EP there was nothing Toyota could've done to match the offer.

[mknight]

But all of this just confirms that he actually left voluntarily and wasn't kicked.

(After he said.he would rather stay at home than drive a Hyundai)

Rather risky move.

[Sal yet again]

So when is Gus Greensmith likley to be announced as the 4th/renta-driver at Toyota?!

[pantealex]

So when is Gus Greensmith likley to be announced as the 4th/renta-driver at Toyota?!

Hopefully never!

[Sergiow]

The very same Toyota Motor President Akio Toyoda from the above Rally Japan 2022 picture is now dropping a bombshell in the Wall Street Journal which might have a big influence on the course of the future WRC:

Toyota Chief Says ‘Silent Majority’ Has Doubts About Pursuing Only EVs

"Global car companies have made a sharp pivot to electric vehicles within the last few years, driven in part by the success of EV-only maker Tesla Inc.

Traditional auto makers such as Toyota, Ford and GM are also facing new competition from startups such as Rivian Automotive and Lucid Group Inc., which make EVs exclusively and have captivated Wall Street in recent years.

At the same time, the legacy auto makers have a much broader base of customers, including many living in rural areas and developing economies with unreliable electricity supplies.

And their gas-engine businesses are still driving the bulk of profits needed to fund the costly shift to electric vehicles, which not only requires the development of new models but also construction of new facilities and battery plants."

https://www.wsj.com/articles/toyota-...72223?mod=e2li

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Given the above, Ford could be in serious trouble as they are going all-in on EV's. These may not be the future panacea for transport after all... and Toyoda should know.

[jiipee64]

The very same Toyota Motor President Akio Toyoda from the above Rally Japan 2022 picture is now dropping a bombshell in the Wall Street Journal which might have a big influence on the course of the future WRC:

Toyota Chief Says ‘Silent Majority’ Has Doubts About Pursuing Only EVs

"Global car companies have made a sharp pivot to electric vehicles within the last few years, driven in part by the success of EV-only maker Tesla Inc.

Traditional auto makers such as Toyota, Ford and GM are also facing new competition from startups such as Rivian Automotive and Lucid Group Inc., which make EVs exclusively and have captivated Wall Street in recent years.

At the same time, the legacy auto makers have a much broader base of customers, including many living in rural areas and developing economies with unreliable electricity supplies.

And their gas-engine businesses are still driving the bulk of profits needed to fund the costly shift to electric vehicles, which not only requires the development of new models but also construction of new facilities and battery plants."

https://www.wsj.com/articles/toyota-...72223?mod=e2li

Any chance getting the whole article??

[Franky]

Any chance getting the whole article??

Here. Different news outlet but the story seams to be exactly identical, including same author.

[EstWRC]

Fowler about the upgrades https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/toyot...nges-for-2023/