WRC
Toyota confirms drivers for its WRC Challenge Program
Hikaru Kogure, Nao Otake and Yuki Yamamoto are the new members of Toyota's WRC Challenge Program. ©Toyota Gazoo Racing
À la recherche de jeunes talents pour son programme en championnat du monde des Rallyes, Toyota a confirmé les nouveaux membres de son WRC Challenge Program 2022. Among the 60 contenders, 8 drivers took part in a two-week training camp in Finland, where the bases of the team are rally from the Japanese manufacturer.
On site, their skills were evaluated at the wheel of production GR Yaris, crosskarts but also two-wheel drive Rally4s, all under the watchful eye of the program's chief instructor Mikko Hirvonen but also Jouni Ampuja and Juho Hänninen.
At the end of these two weeks where physical and neurological training also took place, Hikaru Kogure, Nao Otake and Yuki Yamamoto were selected to join the WRC Challenge Program.
We are excited to welcome three new drivers to the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing WRC Challenge Program following a two-week training camp with us in Finland! 🎌🤝
Find out more: https://t.co/ZbEaQrbt49#ToyotaGAZOORacing #WRC pic.twitter.com/ovuouhHYw0
- TOYOTA GAZOO Racing WRT (@TGR_WRC) February 7, 2022
« We tried to select the drivers who we thought had the most potential for the future, but it wasn't an easy decision to make, underlines Mikko Hirvonen. The three selected pilots showed a good desire to learn and evolve in their careers. They also impressed us with how they improved over the two weeks, how they absorbed information from the instructors and how they handled different situations under pressure. We think they can have a very bright future in rallying. Now the real work begins for them, but I'm sure they are up for the challenge. »
The three men will move to Finland in April to begin an “intensive” training program before starting to take part in various European rounds with Rally4s. Hikaru Kogure, Nao Otake and Yuki Yamamoto now want to follow in the footsteps of Takamoto Katsuta, from the first edition of the WRC Challenge Program in 2015 and now driver of Toyota Gazoo Racing throughout the World Rally Championship.
ALSO READ > Pierre-Louis Loubet joins M-Sport for seven rallies
Gonzalo Forbes
In charge of promotion formulas (F2, F3, FRECA, F4...). Carried by the grace of Franco Colapinto.
Read also
Comments
*The space reserved for logged in users. Please connect to be able to respond or post a comment!
0 Comment (s)
To write a comment
0 View comments)