Toyota announces WRC plans

[Rallyper]

I cant understand the logic behind Makkinen bashing here.Some people seem to prefer the sterile "works" approach as seen with VW and Citroen.But the independant team supported by a manufucturer has worked similarly if not better in results.Examples are countless(Richards/Prodrive/Subaru,Cowan/Ralliart/Mitsubishi,Wilson/M-Sport/Ford).Hell,even the old TTE was quite similar in approach with these teams as one man(Ove Andersson) set up and run the team with support from Japan.So,all in all, there is no indication that a Makkinen/TMR/Toyota way is doomed to fail as most people here suggest.

+10

[Barreis]

We'll see what tractor driver can do with toyota...

[AL14]

I cant understand the logic behind Makkinen bashing here.Some people seem to prefer the sterile "works" approach as seen with VW and Citroen.But the independant team supported by a manufucturer has worked similarly if not better in results.Examples are countless(Richards/Prodrive/Subaru,Cowan/Ralliart/Mitsubishi,Wilson/M-Sport/Ford).Hell,even the old TTE was quite similar in approach with these teams as one man(Ove Andersson) set up and run the team with support from Japan.So,all in all, there is no indication that a Makkinen/TMR/Toyota way is doomed to fail as most people here suggest.

For me Makkinen/Finland is not the problem. My doubts are about Toyota's way of planning an entrance in an international competition among the best drivers and teams. To succeed in such a strong competition you should have your ideas clear from the very beginning.

To make me understand better, if Makkinen idea was there from the beginning and then they decided, 2 years later, to go with TMG I would have the same doubts about TMG choice.

One more thing: I'm not sure it will be a stupid move, we don't know all the people involved, all the situation and all the test data. We can just make assumption. And I'm just doubting this is a sort of gambling move, because from outside it seems like that.

[Sulland]

I wonder why no team used that " best drivers, best roads, best managers" logic until now...

Mostly because this used to be a UK monopoly, both in rally and racing.
it became a big discussion when teams moved og the island, and to Germany. France also have a few people that knows motorsport. The challenge for both are still the same, language. Then international language, also in motorsport is english, and both those countries started late to offer that as the preferred foreign language in primary school. Both are still dubbing on TV.
Finland as said has the same challenge. Have driven through the north part of Finland, not a soul understood a word of english. This was in the early 90s, so it might have changed.
Have worked with many germans, french, and finns in NATO, and they are well spoken in english, but many have learned it in their adult years.

Maybe Spain is a good choice, being the fastest growing language worldwide!

[giu canbera]

Shouldnt Toyota start testing right new the Yaris with the 2017 new specs?

[Mirek]

2017 rules haven't been agreed by WMSC yet. Of course something is known (and for sure the teams know more than us) but still they are not finished.

[Rally Power]

I cant understand the logic behind Makkinen bashing here.Some people seem to prefer the sterile "works" approach as seen with VW and Citroen.But the independant team supported by a manufucturer has worked similarly if not better in results.Examples are countless(Richards/Prodrive/Subaru,Cowan/Ralliart/Mitsubishi,Wilson/M-Sport/Ford).Hell,even the old TTE was quite similar in approach with these teams as one man(Ove Andersson) set up and run the team with support from Japan.So,all in all, there is no indication that a Makkinen/TMR/Toyota way is doomed to fail as most people here suggest.

Totally agree*. This Makinen chance to grow his private structure into a factory supported WRC entrant, like the mentioned examples, should be seen as a positive input to rally sport. TMR will have the resources to get involved in other categories besides WRC. Makinen has already spoke on his interest to develop R5 cars and in the long term R2/R3 will probably follow.

In the case of Toyota lets face it: how many of the guys involved in TTE's glorious WRC past remains today in TMG? Very little, for sure. TMG staff it's linked with the post TTE's efforts, essentially the F1 fiasco and the LeMans still (ever?) to accomplish success.

Those who think Toyoda is a foolish fellow are totally wrong. He's a bright CEO that, God (or whatever) bless him, is also a petrolhead. Gazoo is a powerful marketing company developed by him and from the beginning motorsport made part of it. Putting Gazoo in control of all Toyota's autosport programmes (from local racing to Nascar, Le Mans and now WRC) it's a clear sign of how seriously Mr. Toyoda consider motorsport helpful to his giant automotive group development.

As for the geographical issue, in nowadays globalized world basing a technologic facility in a remote location doesn't seems to be that strange, especially when there's a strong cultural environment. No doubt that Finland has a "rally culture" background like few others.

*apart from considering Citroën approach sterile; they've compete in a high level and always kept the sport accessible to privateers, providing a vast range of rally cars.

[Eli]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/120236 will be based in Finland

[Hartusvuori]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/120236 will be based in Finland

If placed in Finland, I can easily see the benefits of building the team in Halli, former military area. Area itself is big enough and no longer in use by military. As far as known it's been sold to a private owner now. Buildings in the area (hangars, houses, ...) might not be in top condition, so in that sense building new ones right for the purpose of the team makes sense. Biggest benefits comes from the area. They would have kilometres of narrow and wider gravel roads in use for testing. Some are even within fenced area. Some could be surfaced with tarmac. There's a working airfield. If they need big cargo, fine. If they need a bit of tarmac testing, why not. If they need to use bigger and faster gravel roads, they're available in the area. Almost all of Rally Finland pre-event testing takes place within 60 km radius from that base. Halli itself is a town small like a fly's shit, but it's one hour drive from Tampere-Pirkkala airport. Also one hour drive to Jyväskylä and less than one hour drive to downtown Tampere, which is the biggest inland city in Nordic countries.

I see some benefits for myself too. My parents-in-law live two kilometres from that former military base...

[N.O.T]

how rich do you think Makinen and his friends will be by the end of the project ??