Toyota has unveiled the car that it will participate in the 2017 World Rally Championship with, entering the international rallying scene again for the first time in 18 years.
Based on the Yaris, the new car certainly looks a lot meaner than the prototype the world’s largest carmaker showed when it announced its return to WRC early last year. The announcement of new regulations for next year – which is meant to make for faster, more exciting racing – would’ve sent the Toyota Gazoo Racing WRC Rally Team and Toyota Motorsport GmbH (TMG) back to the drawing board.
The result is a much more aggressive look in keeping with the spirit of the rule changes. There are larger fender flares, deeper air dam and side sills and a more intricate rear wing that features more fins and separate flics on the sides.
The regulations call for an unchanged 1.6 litre turbocharged engine, but with larger air restrictors (from 33 mm to 36 mm) bringing power outputs from 300 hp up to WTCC levels at 380 hp. The minimum weight has also dropped by 25 kg, while an active centre differential is now allowed to be used again.
It has also been announced that Microsoft has joined as a technology partner for the team. The Redmond-based tech giant will assist Toyota in developing a data analysis platform, creating a team information sharing system and enhancing communication with fans through the cloud and Microsoft’s display devices.
The collaboration builds on an existing partnership between the two companies, which has recently resulted in the new Toyota Connected user experience and product development company. Other companies that have signed on to the WRC project include Michelin, machining tools supplier DMG Mori and Panasonic.
Leading the team in its return is team principal and four-time WRC champion Tommi Mäkinen. Excited?
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I thought it was frog with a fierce face….so ugly…rv sure drop like hell lor…
In case you wonder it is called angry frog theme
Miss the day when WRC were ruled by Evos and Scoobies.
Those were the Group A rally car days, it all ended when the Peugeot Citroen WRC cars came to power..
Don’t forget, Toyota won constructor championship in 1999,with Corolla WRC
Sorry Toyota, that is one of the ugliest rally car that i have ever seen! BTW where is the Proton IRIS WRC2 rally car? Can’t wait to see it!
Mesti ada 3 butang penting dalam Kereta ni. Ctrl+Alt+Del. Just in case Windows not responding.
Next year should be very interesting for the WRC . It remains to be seen whether the VW steamrolling continues or not, Citroen is back with a vengeance. And of course the return of Toyota is the most celebrated.
The drivers must be very stressed on race day. Not only do they need to concentrate on the road, they will need to know what to do when the cabin monitors and display suddenly went BSOD!.
They may need to reinstall the whole car in the middle of the track LOL
Welcome back Toyota & especially Tommi Mäkinen. WRC will be more interesting to watch with a fresh challenge coming from Toyota. You will keep the establish VW, Ford, Hyundai, Citroen on their toes.
With Microsoft as your partner, am sure you have a formidable partner that others can only envy. Interested to know who is going to drive for U ??! Can’t wait for 2017 WRC to begin.
Feng Shui is terrible la, Microsoft is known worldwide as the slowest operating system with frequent crashes somemore.. you say feng shui good or not good.