Since 2017, the year of Toyota Racing’s return to the WRC, rumors have spread of an R5 project – now Rally2 – of the Japanese manufacturer. The success that Toyota has had over the years (4 drivers ‘and 3 constructors’ world titles) have fueled them for some time, first with Tommi Makinen at the head of the team and now with Jari-Matti Latvala. Today, these have become a reality.
Toyota, during this weekend in which the Rally of Japan takes place, the last stage of WRC 2022, presented the GR Yaris concept car in Rally2 specifications, designed for a customer program to be activated in the future.
Rally2 cars are in effect an interesting method to try to sell their racing products to customers who have the ambition to race in rallies, whether they are regional, national, European or world-wide.
Of the three manufacturers currently engaged in the top WRC category, only Toyota does not have a dedicated customer program with a Rally2 car. Hyundai has the i20 N Rally2, M-Sport has the Ford Fiesta Rally2. The arrival of the GR Yaris Rally2 will thus become another important entry in a market where Skoda Motorsport has dominated over the last few years first with the Fabia R5, then with the Rally2 Evo.
Toyota Rally2 concept car
Photo by: Toyota Racing
Toyota will join other manufacturers that have already built and run their own Rally2. We are talking about Hyundai, Ford, Skoda, Citroen and Volkswagen. The GR Yaris Rally2 made a demonstration test with Juha Kankkunen at the wheel in the Super Special Okazaki City held on Saturday.
For now the GR Yaris Rally2 is a prototype. It will undergo several development tests in the course of 2023, but it is not yet clear when the approval will take place and when it will be available to customers.
“It is very exciting. It is great that Toyota is thinking about a customer program for the future and that the car will undergo several tests in 2023 and hopefully see it racing in the hands of customers,” said Jari. -Matti Latvala, Toyota Racing team principal in the WRC.
“I think the GR Yaris is a great base car to start from. I am confident we can make a good car. If we think about the present, Rally1s are very expensive cars and many individuals cannot afford to buy them. I think Rally2. can be accessible and can also represent the right car for the youngest “.
“The Rally2 class is suitable for demonstrating one’s potential. A sort of high-level springboard that can then lead the drivers to show their skills and maybe take the next step, getting to race behind the wheel of Rally1. It is a very important class. “, concluded the former rally driver.
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