Toyota announces WRC plans

[AndyRAC]

What was Lasse Lampi job at ralliart during Makinen era?

Chief Test driver. I thought it was well known he did most of the testing for Makinen.....

[AMSS]

Chief Test driver. I thought it was well known he did most of the testing for Makinen.....

This baffles me as well, Lampi was well known for doing most of the testing for Makinen during Mitsubishi years, and Lampi didn`t join Subaru... It`s really strange to read Makinen is considered top test driver of all time (by some) as I haven`t heard anything even remotely similar... He was a very very good, in fact best of his time, driver yes, but test driver?? Anyway I won`t get into more debate with this, lets just all hope Toyota will be competitive with the others so we get a good series.

[Simmi]

Probably quite a good film to watch to get an insight into Makinen from people who know him well. And also some nice footage in there. Good for people who are maybe quite new to rallying.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W22vFqVmC80

Some bits on Lampi from around 14:30.

[Lundefaret]

This baffles me as well, Lampi was well known for doing most of the testing for Makinen during Mitsubishi years, and Lampi didn`t join Subaru... It`s really strange to read Makinen is considered top test driver of all time (by some) as I haven`t heard anything even remotely similar... He was a very very good, in fact best of his time, driver yes, but test driver?? Anyway I won`t get into more debate with this, lets just all hope Toyota will be competitive with the others so we get a good series.

Well, when you are an active championship driver, it is quite usual to have other drivers doing the development driving, and even if you get some hints on set up, its usually the driver him self that does the last set up tuning, and this I believe was how the combination of Lasse Lampi (who did important and great work for Mitsubishi) and Mäkinen.
In my mind Tommi had a very clear vision of both how to drive, and how to set up his car to achieve this, but Finnish rally historians can contribute more on this topic.
Even tough his role in his Mitsubishi days was not as a test driver (off course), his skill at finding the right set up is quite evident, as he won many of his rallies by taking an early lead (like Loeb, and Ogier when he is not sweeping.)
(Mäkinen played a great role in Petter Solbergs championship in 2003.)
And because of this, he wants to be an active part in developing the car, which I think is a strength to the team.

If any one here has more detailed info on how Lasse Lampi and Tommi and the whole Mitsubishi team worked together, I would love it if you shared it. And I also think that would be on topic in this thread, because I think Tommi is basing his structure of Toyota Gazoo on the Mitsubishi/Rally Art team structure.
And I also think he wants to get the same "family" feeling in his own team. If he succeeds or not, time will tell.

Any how it will be very interesting to follow the development of this "little brother" of the WRC team family, where I think Volkswagen, Hyundai - and also probably Citroën - has a budget advantage

[Lundefaret]

Probably quite a good film to watch to get an insight into Makinen from people who know him well. And also some nice footage in there. Good for people who are maybe quite new to rallying.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W22vFqVmC80

Some bits on Lampi from around 14:30.

Great (I was looking for this)! And exactly my point. This is what Tommi is trying to recreate

[Lundefaret]

Cool, thanks for that. Didn't know about those guys.

And off cource Andrew Cowan and Ralliart (with I believe is the team Tommi is basing his Toyota Gazoo Racing team on, all tough he is probably having the roles of both Cowan and Lasse Lampi.)

[itix]

no problem https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3YUhUApXv4

This "family operation" sure has very good British accent...

[jbmarcus21]

New test in Gravel Spain with Makinen
Gallery Photos http://goo.gl/6ZK33F

[dimviii]

This baffles me as well, Lampi was well known for doing most of the testing for Makinen during Mitsubishi years, and Lampi didn`t join Subaru... It`s really strange to read Makinen is considered top test driver of all time (by some) as I haven`t heard anything even remotely similar... He was a very very good, in fact best of his time, driver yes, but test driver?? Anyway I won`t get into more debate with this, lets just all hope Toyota will be competitive with the others so we get a good series.

we dont know (yet) if Makinen is an advantage or disadvantage to have a role at Yaris testing.
Tommi is a lot of years out of competition,while for example Sainz wasnt.
Times have changed,everything is evolute. Its different to have a good basis(gr A car) and is different to create a wrc which have to be competetive.
I am very sceptical about the Toyota project,the way they organize it.
I am very sceptical because we dont know plenty of things about them(who designed for example Yaris)
Hopefully they succeed,and to have a 4th factory that can win rallies.But to see this,even if they build a car that can win,with which drivers?
Difficult project for Tommi...

[Kielder]

A new video of Makinen testing the car:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2ArImvpFnc