Toyota confirms WRC return in 2017

TOYOTA CONFIRMED TODAY THAT IT WILL RETURN TO THE FIA WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP WITH A YARIS WORLD RALLY CAR IN 2017.

Toyota Motor Corporation president Akio Toyoda ended months of speculation when he made the announcement during a press conference in Tokyo, at which the Yaris WRC made its public debut in a launch livery.

The programme will be handled by Toyota Motorsport (TMG) in Cologne, Germany, which has already completed a preliminary test programme in Europe with the Yaris WRC on asphalt and gravel.

Frenchman Eric Camilli, who drove a Ford Fiesta R5 in WRC 2 at Rallye Monte-Carlo, has been selected as the first member of Toyota’s junior driver development scheme.

The 27-year-old will carry out the test programme alongside former Subaru driver Stéphane Sarrazin, now a racer in Toyota’s FIA World Endurance Championship squad, and eight-time Finnish champion Sebastian Lindholm.

Toyoda said his visit to last season’s Neste Oil Rally Finland impressed him.

“During my time there many rally fans asked me when Toyota would come back to WRC. People talked about Toyota’s history in WRC, and I was filled with surprise and gratitude that so many people remembered.

“Last time we competed was in 1999. That makes me think we are not announcing a return, but perhaps a start. We must begin again from scratch and carefully prepare both team and cars," he said.

The current Yaris WRC complies with existing regulations, but changes are expected when updated technical rules are introduced to WRC in 2017.

Toyota won four drivers’ and three manufacturers’ world titles in the 1990s with legendary drivers such as Carlos Sainz and Juha Kankkunen.

Toyota’s return was welcomed by WRC Promoter’s managing director, Oliver Ciesla.

“Toyota has a long and distinguished history in motorsport, particularly in world rallying, and we’re delighted to welcome one of the automobile industry’s giants back to WRC,” he said.

source: wrc.com

WRC : No transmission of performance data

In recent years, thanks to improvements in mobile data and timing systems, WRC drivers have been able to monitor their rivals’ speed during a live stage via a stream of data messages sent from their team. By receiving splits, which were taken from the official timing system, drivers could speed up or ease off if necessary - modifying their strategy on the go.

It was a handy tool, and far superior to the old system that involved team personnel lurking on the roadside with stopwatches and pit boards. But from 2015 the drivers will have to do without it. At its meeting in December, the FIA World Motor Sport Council decided that ‘from 2015, the transmission of performance data or information to or from a competing car, not in relation with safety, is forbidden during special stages to help promote greater competition.’

So, although the live split times will continue to be available to teams (and wrc.com users) the drivers will have to rely on their intuition alone to judge their speed. And that’s going to make the familiar Sunday driver quote “I’m just keeping an eye on the pace of the guy behind” a thing of the past. And that’s great news.


*Source - www.wrc.com

WRC : Running Order Revamp

The order in which drivers start WRC stages is controversial because on many rallies the first through will be at a disadvantage. This is most noticeable on loose, dry gravel events, where the first competitor - or competitors - will encounter more slippery conditions than those following. On the other hand, it can be advantageous to be first through some roads - damp asphalt for example - where the surface will tend to get dirtier with each passing car. 

So, what is the fairest way to decide who should go first? Over the years the FIA has tried numerous different systems, from letting the drivers choose their own positions depending on their performance at Shakedown, to the 2014 system of drivers’ championship order for day one and then reverse rally classification order from then on. This year the FIA has revamped the system again so that seeded drivers will start Friday and Saturday’s stages in championship order and only Sunday’s final day in reverse classification order. 

It’s a system that will give the championship leader the worst conditions for the majority of some rallies. Understandably, this hasn’t gone down well with Sebastien Ogier, but others argue that the leading driver should be best able to overcome any disadvantage and this is the best way to level the playing field. Is it a fairer system and will it lead to closer battles? We’ll see soon - but for the full effect we will have to wait until Rally Guanajuato Mexico in March.



*Source - www.wrc.com

WRC comeback for Solberg?

Petter Solberg could make a sensational switch back to the World Rally Championship next season.

Solberg departed the WRC at the end of 2012 when Ford withdrew, after finishing on the podium on five of 13 rallies in a factory Ford Fiesta RS WRC.

"I won't be in round one, that's pretty sure. But after that, who knows? I like Sweden and we did well there in the last couple of years [winning the Swedish historic event in his own Ford Escort]."

"Things are happening, and, yes, maybe it is possible [to go back to the WRC]."

"Nothing is sorted for next season. I always said I would never say "never" when I was asked about going back to the WRC."

"Rallying is in my heart and always will be."

He says his time in World RX has given him and edge to take back to rallying.

"I definitely feel a more complete driver now," he said. "When I started in Condroz, the feeling was stronger than ever behind the wheel.

"What I have been doing for the last two years has made me look at everything and analyse it a little bit differently. I'm driving better than ever now."

Loeb dominates on his rallying return

Sebastien Loeb began his rallying comeback with a commanding win in the Rally of Var, with his wife Severine in the co-drivers seat.

The nine time WRC Champion who will make his return to WRC in the 2015 Monte Carlo Rally, led from start to finish in the Rally of Var, which is a popular test event for the Monte Carlo Rally.

Driving the Citroen DS3 WRC, Loeb won the event comfortably by over three minutes. David Salanon in his Ford Fiesta RS WRC finished second.

Loeb will test the DS3 again before the Monte, which will be his first WRC appearance since what had been his farewell rally in France last October.

Ogier wins Wales Rally...And its Goodbye Hirvonen!!

World Champion Sebastien Ogier comfortably scored his eighth win of the season in the Wales Rally GB. Ogier in his Volkswagen Polo R remained unchallenged after his team mate Jari Matti Latvala, who looked promising on the opening day before he crashed mid way in the opening stage.

Mikko Hirvonen had an emotional end to his career after he finished in the second place.

Here are the Top five timings in the Wales Rally GB after the Power Stage.

1. Ogier (VW): 3:03:08.2

2. Hirvonen (Ford): 37.6

3. Ostberg (Citroen): 1m03.6s

4. Neuville (Hyundai): 1m14.9s

5. Evans (Ford): 1m24.3s

Ogier after winning:

"The win is the best way to finish the year - that was the target. We wanted to enjoy it here. We started flat-out and we made a great difference, but after Jari-Matti had his problem my race changed and I had to control it. Not the best fun but I had to do it. When the conditions are like this it's not too bad. I'm so happy for Mikko to finish on the podium. It's a great achievement."

Hirvonen after finished on the podium in his last Rally:

"I'm so happy! I couldn't have a better end to my career. A great fight. For sure I am going to miss things. There are so many people to thank. To you all - thank you!"

Jari-Matti Latvala won the rally-closing Power Stage in a Polo R to take maximum bonus points. Thierry Neuville claimed two points for second in a Hyundai i20, with Østberg taking one point for third.