Toyota, set to stay in the WRC for a long time

Toyota and WRC, it's a love story that has lasted since 2017... and which is not ready to stop. Dominant this season with 5 victories in 9 events and a comfortable lead in the manufacturer's championship, the Japanese brand has become iconic in the World Rally Championship with the Yaris. The team based in Jyväskylä, Finland, has successfully transitioned to the hybrid era and is aiming for a 4th WRC title after 1999, 2018 and 2021.

The success that Toyota is experiencing with the Yaris Rally1 is obviously beneficial for the brand. Akio Toyoda, president of the Japanese firm, explained that the WRC was beneficial both for the image and for the sales of his model. “The Yaris is increasingly popular in Europe, but not onlyhe said. We switched to the Yaris name all over the world. This name is a bit of a symbol of Toyota in motorsport and I think that it has really helped to increase the value of Toyota. »

In the margins of Rally of Ypres, where Toyota failed against Hyundai with the victory ofOtt Tänak, the Japanese director reaffirmed the importance of the championship for the brand. “I really feel the pleasure of the WRC. The FIA ​​chooses different locations around the world, Japan included. It is very important for Japanese rally fans to be able to see the highest global level of our sport with world-class drivers and co-drivers. I think it's pretty exciting. » Enough to reassure Toyota's presence in the WRC in the years to come...

Latvala reveals his wishes for 2023 at Toyota

This season, Toyota has a certainly formidable Yaris, but also the presence of big names like Sébastien Ogier and Elfyn Evans, and a future champion: Kalle Rovanperä, firmly established at the head of the World Drivers' Championship. A rough diamond that could launch an era of Finnish-Japanese domination in the WRC.

Especially since the balance of forces at Toyota is working well this season. The Japanese team achieved a podium finish in each event of the season. Jari-Matti Latvala, the team director, would like to keep this operation for next season. “For me, the ideal situation would be to continue with the same drivers next year, admitted the ex-WRC driver. “Sébastien is still an extremely fast driver. He is eight times world champion and there are events like Monte-Carlo, where he is really strong. But there are others where Esapekka Lappi is solid like Finland, Estonia and Ypres, where he got on the podium. The partnership we have now, with two cars [for Kalle Rovanperä and Elfyn Evans], a third [shared] and Takamoto [Katsuta] in a fourth, is a good thing. So we need to discuss these things and think about everything. »

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