Toyota formalizes its return in 2017

We explained it in particular in issue 1993 of AUTOhebdo of January 7 latest, and it's now official: Toyota will make his return in WRC from the 2017 season. The Japanese brand, absent since 1999, has a long history at the highest level of the rally world championships including three Manufacturers' world titles in 1993, 1994 and 1999, and four Drivers' titles for Carlos Sainz (1990? 1992), Juha Kankkunen (1993) and Didier Auriol (1994) with the different versions of the Toyota Celica.

“During my time there, many rally fans asked me when Toyota would return to the WRC, indicates Toyota president Akio Toyoda, referring to its presence in Finland last summer. People were talking about Toyota's WRC history, and I was surprised that so many people remembered. The last time we participated was in 1999. Which makes me think that we are not announcing a return, but perhaps a beginning. We have to start from scratch and carefully prepare the teams and cars. »

In 2017, Toyota will field a Yaris powered by a 1,6L turbo engine. The firm had started preliminary tests with this model many months ago. Three test drivers have been confirmed for 2015, with Frenchman Stephane Sarrazin (aligned in WEC) who will be joined by his compatriot Eric Camilli (invited to tests last October with the Frenchman Stéphane Lefebvre, the Dutchman Kevin Abbring, the Finnish Teemu Surinen and the Swede Pontus Tidemand) and the Finnish Sebastian Lindholm. However, no driver has been announced for the 2017 season.

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