TOYOTA GAZOO Racing WRT

[Sulland]

Since the planning is over and the team is doing well, they deserve a new team thread.

Personally I must say that the team and car is a very positive surprize in the 2017 seaon so far.
Very few thought that they would be able to produce a competitive car year 1.
Latvala's testing just before homologation gave them a lot of useful input that probably gave them a better starting point.

But few had thought thay would take a second place im MC, and a win in Sweden.

In Finland the car looked like the easiest to drive, and was very stable over the jumps, and had very good traction.
When a driver with little WRCar experience like Lappi, can win with it, they must have done much right in the Mäkinen barn :-)

[steve.mandzij]

It proved many people wrong, including me and N.O.T

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[AnttiL]

Mäkinen said in interviews during Rally Finland that the car is still not completely ready and at the start of the season it was so unfinished they didn't want to put Lappi too early in it.

[mknight]

Well they did a good job so far yes, I also didn't expect them to be this good.

However I do not think they have overall the best car atm (Tommi claimed that after finish in Finland).

Yes they had the best car in Finland, with unlimited testing right in front of their door. Sweden is very much the same case with very similar roads and conditions.

On other rallies they were at best similar to Ford/Hyundai, sometimes worse. Let's see what the coming rallies will show.

[Andre Oliveira]

Ok, the work was good but... the 2 wins were in specific rallies. I want see more.

[AMSS]

Well they did a good job so far yes, I also didn't expect them to be this good.

However I do not think they have overall the best car atm (Tommi claimed that after finish in Finland).

Yes they had the best car in Finland, with unlimited testing right in front of their door. Sweden is very much the same case with very similar roads and conditions.

On other rallies they were at best similar to Ford/Hyundai, sometimes worse. Let's see what the coming rallies will show.

I also agree, in Finland we never really got to see Fords real performance due to both Tänaks and Ogiers mistakes early (except Tänaks PS time) I think it would have been a big fight between them to the end otherwise.
Regardless the Toyotas were clearly really good in this rally

[electroliquid]

Ok, the work was good but... the 2 wins were in specific rallies. I want see more.

Sorry for OT, but which rally isn't specific in WRC or ERC? I always thought that Rally Finland is classic rally - exactly as rally should be.

[dimviii]

Sorry for OT, but which rally isn't specific in WRC or ERC? I always thought that Rally Finland is classic rally - exactly as rally should be.

you will understand at next rally why Finland is specific.

[Kaps]

What does GAZOO stand for?

[AnttiL]

I also agree, in Finland we never really got to see Fords real performance due to both Tänaks and Ogiers mistakes early (except Tänaks PS time) I think it would have been a big fight between them to the end otherwise.

Well, Evans finished second and Suninen made some fastest stage times, and those were the guys who didn't even get to test properly.