Toyota announces WRC plans

[Mirek]

We should be discussing this in the 'WRC Foresight' thread.
Costs would inevitably grow with any non existing or sub category becoming a big FIA series.
The actual question is what do they want to do with the sport ? how far in the cost vs performance vs go Green compromise ?

I reckon times will change quickly and radically.

In my opinion speaking about cutting cost by technical rules for manufacturer teams has no sense. They will always spend all the money they are given by the management. When VW or Hyundai are given 100 million Euro they will spend it no matter what the rules are. If they would like to keep cost down they can start with not bringing a whole factory together with them to every event...

[Rallyper]

I guess MIrek has a good point. Nothing is automatic. And rules built on merchandises might not be the right way... But todays WRC in some way revised would be best. In which way I´m not the man to say.

[jonkka]

In my opinion speaking about cutting cost by technical rules for manufacturer teams has no sense. They will always spend all the money they are given by the management. When VW or Hyundai are given 100 million Euro they will spend it no matter what the rules are. If they would like to keep cost down they can start with not bringing a whole factory together with them to every event...

It makes sense if you remember that for a manufacturer, the reason to participate is to advertise and market their products, not to develop cars or technology. If WRC would be competed in horse drawn wagons, they would still spend their whole budget. So, when manufacturer says "lower the costs", he means "I want to spend bigger portion of my budget on VIP catering and T-shirts with our company slogan".

[mejias307]

Hi there, has anyone actualy read the news story who is mentioned in the first post yet?

[Zeakiwi]

You would have to wonder when it is time to consider a spaceframe WRC vehicle specification (silhouette/skin) like the group s that was planned.

Nascar, V8 Supercars and a few other classes are spaceframe vehicles. The theory is it is less expensive to repair a spaceframe vehicle than a pressed monocoque steel shell.
i.e The skin/ silhouette and parts are removed and the steel tubing is cut out and repaired or replaced.

If the spaceframe is built to a similar dimension - the same suspension, brakes steering parts etc can be used across brands. Each manufacturer has their own engine so the competition is still about engine build, crew -drivers/ mechanics and setup for performance and reliability.etc

[Sulland]

Cool of Makinen to make a GT-86 WRC concept car, so: pls Toyota use that instead of the tiny Yaris. Looks so much like ra racecar!!

would be interessting to hear from a drivers perspective on the two cars!

[RS]

I find the Toyota situation weird, they don't want to work with their own TTE so instead they team up with Makinen who has no real experience in this field?

What is really going on? Is either project "official" or neither?

[manthey]

Toyora testing in Italy this week

[Rally Power]

TMG test a lot in Italy. Do they have a local team support (Procar, Italia Motorsport, etc) like it was rumored at the beginning of the year?

[Rallyper]

Is the GT-86 a 4WD?