Yves Matton, new team manager for Toyota in rally-raid

At 58, Yves Matton, former director of Citroën Racing and later FIA Rally Director, will take the reins of Overdrive Racing as team manager, alongside the Belgian outfit's managing director, Jean-Marc Fortin. Matton will assume his role at the second round of the W2RC in Portugal, from March 17 to 22. The Belgian's mission will be "to optimize the team's operations and efficiency in an increasingly professional championship that brings together various manufacturers at the highest level," as explained in the team's official press release.

"I am delighted to take on this new challenge with a major manufacturer that has a very strong track record in various disciplines."explained Yves Matton. " After the WRC and the WTCC, I will have the chance to manage a professional team in a third World Championship, which will naturally not be a complete discovery for me since the rally-Rida was obviously part of my responsibilities when I held the position of Rally Director at the FIA. Our objective is obviously very clear: to prioritize enabling Toyota to retain its Manufacturers' title in W2RC.

After securing the drivers' (with Lucas Moraes) and manufacturers' titles in 2025, Toyota arrived at this year's Dakar Rally with a new DKR GR Hilux, which demonstrated strong performance but also some minor reliability issues. Toby Price, finishing eighth overall, achieved the best result for the new vehicles, developed entirely at Overdrive's facilities in Villers-le-Bouillet.

"With TOYOTA GAZOO Racing's official W2RC program now managed by Overdrive Racing, it is essential to have an optimal management structure."Jean-Marc Fortin indicated. “Yves Matton will be able to share his extensive experience in team management with us, as well as the skills he has accumulated over many years in both rallying and rally-raid, particularly during his time as FIA Rally Director. We are also proud to welcome him to our team and further strengthen the Belgian identity of our organization, which also includes Christian Loriaux at the head of its technical department.”

No doubt about it, at Toyota, life is more Belgian than ever…

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