Toyota announces WRC plans

[makinen_fan]

Some photos from the gravel test in Spain
https://www.facebook.com/joseignacio...=3&pnref=story

K-AM 1422 here as well

[itix]

wow looks really pretty over there and also the roads, that's where they should do Rally Italia and not Sardegna.

Italy has so many beautiful regions. Sardegna is an interesting one but maybe not classically beautiful like the north in the alps.

Doing rallies in the mountains has safety implications I guess though which is probably the main reason rallies aren't held in Northern Italy's alp ranges as the drops are massive and would kill anyone who went off.

Don't get me wrong... I agree with you, the mountains of the North are a much better backdrop than Sardegna.

[jonkka]

Apparently Makinen intends to base Toyota operation in Jyvaskyla.

Source (in Finnish, I am afraid): http://yle.fi/uutiset/paivakoti_ei_p...ylassa/8347646

I understand the pro's but I am afraid Tommi doesn't appreciate the con's.

[janvanvurpa]

Apparently Makinen intends to base Toyota operation in Jyvaskyla.

Source (in Finnish, I am afraid): http://yle.fi/uutiset/paivakoti_ei_p...ylassa/8347646

I understand the pro's but I am afraid Tommi doesn't appreciate the con's.

And what might you think the biggest cons are?

[Mintexmemory]

I think Sardinia is perfect because of the variety of terrain and compact nature - this year's Saturday programme was a perfect day's spectating.

[jonkka]

And what might you think the biggest cons are?

Location. Though it's good for testing, as Tommi says, it's remote. They'll have longer commute and supply routes to events which costs more and team personnel and equipment will spend more time on the road.

But most importantly, what about team personnel? Who are they going to hire for key positions? I see only bad options:
-locals (good for manual labour, sure)
-people willing to relocate to icy reaches (whose intellect that puts into doubt)
-people working remotely from civilization (not an ideal way to work in a team)

[Sulland]

Folks, relax. We are not talking a remote dark ages place here: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jyv%C3%A4skyl%C3%A4

Jyvaskyla has 130 000 people, university (that he can cooperate with), airport and it takes aprox 2,5 hours to get to Helsinki by car if you need to. So logistically no issues in my book. Everything does not have to be located in downtown Europe to be a winner!

I support Tommi in using his country, that has shown over the last 30 years they have a special gift in bringing up people that are quick.
Why should they not be able to making quick and durable cars as well!

[Lundefaret]

Location. Though it's good for testing, as Tommi says, it's remote. They'll have longer commute and supply routes to events which costs more and team personnel and equipment will spend more time on the road.

But most importantly, what about team personnel? Who are they going to hire for key positions? I see only bad options:
-locals (good for manual labour, sure)
-people willing to relocate to icy reaches (whose intellect that puts into doubt)
-people working remotely from civilization (not an ideal way to work in a team)

- The "locals" are the people behind Nokia.
- Icy reaches will let them be able to do frequent tests on snow, they can test on tarmac in fall and spring to simulate the Monte, and also on frozen lakes.
- Jyvaskyla: One of the nicest towns I've been in, and great potential to take this project personal - in a good way. Passion and team spirit!

To "isolate" the group in Finland can be positive, because You can build a family that work and live together.

Compare to the Hyundai WRC factory situated in a German industrial area.
No Germans care of who the tenants are in that building.
Its a LOOONG way to go to test on relevant gravel roads.
And its difficult to build up that family feeling.

Finland is the rally capitol og the world, and I would believe a bigger percentage of Finns know who Loeb is, than the French.
I think the Toyota WRC factory in Finland has the potential of being truly great!

[Simmi]

Genuine question - is Finland good for general varied gravel testing or simply for Rally Finland?

I think a lot of the testing implications seem to be moot as, apart from shaking down their cars locally, all the teams seem to travel to do any serious pre-event testing. I doubt they will do a load of local tarmac tests for example.

I do agree that Jyvaskyla is a nice place and the locals will not only appreciate it, but actively try to help the team.

[COD]

Well, M-sport is located in the middle of nowhere in a remote island and they have managed fine. Don't think travelling costs are an issue for Toyota. Ok, it might them one more day to get ti central Europe. But a lot of material is airlifted anyway, so no big deal. Sourcing people. Well, the opportunity to work for top WRC-team is such a draw that that should not be a problem either