It wasn’t that long ago when the WRC felt like a deserted place, a two-horse race between Citroen and Ford. However, the top rally series has seen a recent revival with major carmakers such as MINI, Hyundai and Volkswagen coming in to try and win on Sunday, sell on Monday. They will soon be joined by the world’s largest carmaker, Toyota.
Yes, the big T has confirmed a return to the FIA World Rally Championship in 2017, and the car that will be used is the Yaris. The B-segment hatchback is a natural choice and direct rival to the Ford Fiesta, Citroen DS3, Hyundai i20 and VW Polo in showrooms and soon, on special stages. The Yaris WRC will be developed and built by Toyota Motorsport GmbH (TMG) at its base in Cologne, Germany.
The Yaris WRC features a 1.6 litre turbocharged direct-injection engine with over 300 hp. It has already completed a preliminary test programme on tarmac and gravel stages throughout Europe, and the preparation will continue over the next two years.
A few young drivers have already tested the car and Eric Camilli, 27, has been selected as the first member of a junior driver development scheme. The Frenchman will carry out the development programme alongside last year’s Tour de Corse winner Stephane Sarrazin, also a racer in Toyota’s FIA World Endurance Championship team, and Sebastian Lindholm.
Toyota is no stranger to rallying, of course. Those who follow the sport will no doubt remember the Castrol liveried Celica and Corolla rally cars driven by top drivers like Carlos Sainz, Juha Kankkunen and Didier Auriol. It may seem like yesterday for some, but Toyota Team Europe’s last rally was actually in the last millennium! The 1999 season was TTE’s last.
“To run two works motorsport programmes simultaneously (WEC and WRC) is of course a challenge but we believe we have the expertise and determination to succeed. There is much to do as we make the journey back to WRC but to have received the support of Toyota Motor Corporation and our President Akio Toyoda is already very encouraging,” said TMG president Yoshiaki Kinoshita.
Toyoda, a certified petrolhead and possibly the coolest car boss in town, has in fact already tested the Yaris WRC. See him go sideways in the video above. Did anyone say boring?
Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro.
Why wait until 2017? Is’nt it a bit too late (or too early an announcement) when Toyota has already started the testing?
On the other hand, actually Toyota has got some experiences running both Sportscar Prototype Racing & WRC programmes, although it’s quite a long time ago, which was way back in the late 1980s & early 1990s.
Eat smoke lah Iriz
Since when iriz joins wrc?
In your bad dream? Lol
Yes, you’re right. Iriz tidak layak, not even in your dream lol
Setakat yaris buh turbo bocor belum tentu menag hahaha
Toyota always take one year to test before joining the real deal. Remember their F1 team? They used the whole of 2001 to test before entering the championship in 2002 (not that it helped their performance, mind you)
Why not use the Toyota 86, but with AWD?
Because 86 is not that good, only top gear praised it for nothing
But better than your plotong
Number “86” is all 86 have. Think of it as a fan service from Toyota.
using a long and heavier coupe was something of the 1980s (Toyota Celica, Audi Quattro, Nissan 240RS).
in the 1990s, rally giants focused on family sedans to promote better sales and that resulted with Subaru Impreza and Mitsubishi Lancer Evo.
However by the end of 90s the trend changed again following the tail of Lancia Delta Integrale when Ford and Peugoet both fielded family hatchbacks (206 and Focus) against the 2 giants. Toyota followed suit with Corolla WRC and hit bulls eye in 1999 (constructor champion) before leaving WRC to compete in F1.
the same formula is still in use today with Citroen (Xsara and C4), Mini and VW (Polo)
They did consider it, after it was tested by Tommi Makinen.
If you consider WRC trend now, its all 1.6T, and no more 2.0T. As much as they wanted to, it was against what the 86 stood for. So why mess it up.
Yaris getting bigger and bigger. Look at the photo, its basically same size as the old AE111 Corolla hatch.
In all aspects, this was the more ideal car to use.
And I might add – has a more “People’s Champion” feel about it.
And let’s face it. Red colour is ALWAYS better! lol.
Wanted this car,haven’t seen one in showroom -_-
can’t have this on our soil.. coz it would make proton look worse than it already is.. that’s part of it’s protection policy..
Iriz can eat smoke of this car
Welcome back Toyota, and maybe VW Group would put the Porsche back in too some day.
I wonder… can it really compete Polo WRC!!!?!!??
Pfft!
At best, it will mingle with the Hyundai i20. The VW is untouchable now.
Volkwagen has sold as many cars as Toyota in 2014. Now, Toyota has reacted by injecting some excitement to their brand. Which is why they are announcing the return to WRC so early and actually coming to race so late in 2017.
only TMG?
where’s TOM’s?