Toyota announces WRC plans

[Mirek]

I agree with you. VW set new standards in WRC. They’ve spent millions creating a fabulous in house team that no one could compete. But now they´re leaving and besides their dominant mark and the broken records in what way can we say they’ve help to develop the sport?

Probably in no other way: one can still remember them pushing the promoter to adopt new rules totally disrespectful to WRC heritage and showing no interest about privateer teams and drivers needs, in international or national rally series; their only target was to become a steamroll in WRC.

Should we desire a similar attitude from Toyota? I don’t. Despite all the troubles and misfortunes they can came by choosing a private partner, I really hope Toyota and TMR will be a top contender in WRC and, specially, will be able to provide a wide range of rally cars to private customers around the world, making a serious contribution to the sport development. Just like Ford and MSport have been doing for a long time.

Yes, VW used its power to make the WRC friendly for itself and while we may not like it it's another achievement it managed.

My point was that Toyota's effort shall and will be compared with VW because Toyota is in very similar position like VW.

While it's true that Mäkinen built a whole new team and the car in very short time it's not something what Toyota shall be proud of or any sort of excuse. Toyota has enough resources, had enough time (they started the WRC project long before it was given to Mäkinen) and must have only winning ambitions as anything else makes no sense.