TOYOTA GAZOO Racing WRT

[mknight]

I think that TM probably thought that his bargaining position was stronger than it turned out to be. 1st - everybody agreed that Yaris is best car at the moment and it would make sense for Ott to stay; 2nd - Neuville and Ogier having signed contracts with their teams means that only MSport is viable alternative but their budget is not comparable to Toyota; 3rd - going to Hyundai or Citroen didnt seem like serious option, more like distraction, as at least in recent years usually every team tries to have one star driver and support drivers - having 2 stars in same team is very expensive and possibly damaging for climate. So one could forgive Tommi in playing it hard and calling Otts bluff until it turned out not to be bluff after all, but by then damage was done.

I think the apparent change in speed of the Yaris after the wing modifications also might have had a role.

[meh]

I guess there's been some stuff going on in Estonia, but considering how crazy the fans are I'm surprised we haven't seen something like Petter's welcome home in 2003. Anything?
The Skoda rally commercial has been running on TV even in Norway

https://www.facebook.com/Injection.n...epa=SEARCH_BOX

This kind of stuff will not going to happen in Estonia. Petter is entertainer, he enjoys it, he fires it up and this is his way to do it. Tänak is quite opposite, he prefers to come out from rally car and disappear to forest to be with family (or at least without public attention).

[Fast Eddie WRC]

2020 Yaris GR-4 coming...

https://www.evo.co.uk/toyota/yaris/2...and-a-true-wrc

[able1]

I think the apparent change in speed of the Yaris after the wing modifications also might have had a role.

Well Latvala and Tanak both mentioned that modification done to rear wing had made very minor difference, speed has been the same it just seems like other teams have caught up bit more.

[Rally Power]

2020 Yaris GR-4 coming...

https://www.evo.co.uk/toyota/yaris/2...and-a-true-wrc

They surely keep their promises; this Yaris homologation special was announced 2 years ago: https://www.motorsportforums.com/sho...ing-WRT/page24

It’s a sort of 2 in 1; their new WRC gets an improved base and general costumers can now buy a WRC related car, just like in Gr.A days.

[Norm75]

They surely keep their promises; this Yaris homologation special was announced 2 years ago: https://www.motorsportforums.com/sho...ing-WRT/page24

It’s a sort of 2 in 1; their new WRC gets an improved base and general costumers can now buy a WRC related car, just like in Gr.A days.

The rumour is now Toyota have a 20% stake in Subaru they are jointly developing the next generation Subaru STI, and that the 4wd system could be used in both the Subaru and a hot Yaris, so this may well be a 4wd model.

[mknight]

Well Latvala and Tanak both mentioned that modification done to rear wing had made very minor difference, speed has been the same it just seems like other teams have caught up bit more.

Tänak typically lead by 30-40 secs before launch on Saturday on almost every rally between Finland 2018 and 2019, then suddenly a month later he is fighting with both Neuville and Ogier for 2-3 secs per stage max. Similarly stages with average speed over some 120 kph used to be Toyota 1-2-3 in that period, that doesn't happen any more.
Note that Hyundai and Citroen did no changes (homologation) to their cars since Finland. Toyota had to resize the wing.

Toyota team will off course claim the wing did nothing at all, cause following different rules than other teams for 2,5 years is rather problematic. As you might recall it seems the whole WRC allive crew got a gag order about it too. Not a single mention when the very different wing arrived in Turkey, while they used a lot of time to comment on Hyundai adding one extra small fin for Finland.

[deephouse]

Nah, Makinen just told their drivers (I mean Tanak): put foot of gas pedal so it can be more fun 😅

[racerx1979]

They surely keep their promises; this Yaris homologation special was announced 2 years ago: https://www.motorsportforums.com/sho...ing-WRT/page24

It’s a sort of 2 in 1; their new WRC gets an improved base and general costumers can now buy a WRC related car, just like in Gr.A days.

Yep, Toyota doing what the fans want. Hopefully other manufacturers will follow this trend. The Group A days were great with All-Tracs, VR-4's, Integrale's, Cossies and Subies...

[racerx1979]

Confirmed... its 4WD. Basically a Lancer or STI made by Toyota which is awesome!