The Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Staff will have fun their clean-sweep of the 2022 World Rally Championship titles after they compete on Rally Japan this week. The “homecoming” occasion can even see the group current two rally idea cars- new model of the GR Yaris constructed to Rally2 competitors specs and the GR Yaris H2 powered by a hydrogen combustion engine.
The WRC’s first go to to Japan since 2010 marks the climax of an distinctive 12 months for TGR. Kalle Rovanperä was topped the youngest drivers’ champion but alongside his co-driver Jonne Halttunen in New Zealand final month, earlier than the group then wrapped up the producers’ title in Spain two weeks in the past.
Rovanperä might be competing in Japan for the primary time, as will his full-season team-mate Elfyn Evans. Finishing the TGR WRT line-up is Sébastien Ogier, who gained the newest version of Rally Japan in 2010. Ogier claimed the final two of his eight world championship titles with Toyota earlier than stepping again from full-time competitors this season. After taking victory in Spain with Benjamin Veillas, he might be joined in Japan by younger, up-and-coming co-driver Vincent Landais. British driver Elfyn Evans completes the line-up with co-driver Scott Martin.
TGR WRC Problem Program driver Takamoto Katsuta could have the prospect to compete in his house spherical of the WRC for the primary time on the finish of a robust and constant full-season marketing campaign beneath the TGR WRT Subsequent Technology banner.
Whereas Rally Japan was beforehand run as a gravel occasion within the northern island of Hokkaidō, its return is being held on asphalt roads on the biggest island, Honshu. The phases will happen largely within the mountains of the Aichi and Gifu prefectures on extremely demanding roads which are technical and slim in character. Many sections will run via forests with continuously altering grip ranges.
The service park might be positioned at Toyota Stadium in Aichi, close to the town of Nagoya. Each the shakedown and Thursday night’s opening stage might be held within the close by Kuragaike Park. Friday would be the longest day of the rally with 80.9 aggressive miles to be tackled throughout two loops of three phases to the north-east of Toyota Metropolis. Saturday includes a trio of repeated phases to the south-east, plus two passes of a brilliant particular stage in Okazaki Metropolis to spherical out the day. Sunday’s ultimate day will comprise 5 phases, beginning and ending with the Asahi Kougen check that hosts the rally-ending Energy Stage.
Rally idea automobiles
Toyota will current two idea automobiles, each of which might be pushed in Okazaki, previous to the beginning of stage 13 on Saturday, with two rally legends on the wheel.
The GR Yaris Rally2 Idea might be unveiled for the primary time. It has been developed in line with competitors specs for the favored and aggressive Rally2 class, wherein many groups take part with the goal of changing into totally concerned in buyer motorsports in each rallying and racing.
First seen on the Ypres Rally in Belgium earlier this 12 months, the GR Yaris H2 is an experimental idea which makes use of hydrogen gasoline in a combustion engine.
The GR Yaris Rally2 Idea might be pushed by Juha Kankkunen whereas Tommi Mäkinen will take the wheel of the GR Yaris H2.
As a part of Toyota’s initiatives to discover new choices for attaining carbon neutrality and creating a sustainable motorsports business, clear vitality derived from hydrogen gasoline cells might be used within the service park at Toyota Stadium and on the Okazaki stage, taking advantage of expertise gained within the Tremendous Taikyu racing collection in Japan and at Ypres Rally Belgium.
Staff quotes
Jari-Matti Latvala (Staff Principal)
“The return of Rally Japan to the WRC is one thing that we now have been wanting ahead to for a very long time and will probably be very thrilling for us to compete on the house rally of Toyota Gazoo Racing. After such an incredible season for our group will probably be nice to go there with a bit much less stress, to actually get pleasure from it and placed on a present for the followers with our GR Yaris Rally1 Hybrid and attempt to get the very best end result attainable. We must be ready for what appears like a really difficult rally on twisty mountain roads that are actually slim in locations, and with autumn situations and leaves on the highway which is able to make it difficult for the drivers with a whole lot of grip adjustments.”
Sébastien Ogier (driver automobile 1)
“I’m actually excited for Rally Japan. It was fairly an enormous disappointment the final two years that this rally needed to be cancelled as we positively see it as a spotlight as Toyota Gazoo Racing drivers. I really like the nation itself and have some good recollections of it: I’ve solely competed there as soon as earlier than nevertheless it was a win, so there’s additionally some stress to try to preserve my 100 per cent document! This rally might be completely totally different although and possibly fairly a demanding one from what we now have seen up to now. However I all the time just like the problem of a very new rally the place everyone begins from scratch and has to adapt as rapidly as attainable. I’m certain the expertise goes to be a particular one.”
Elfyn Evans (driver automobile 33)
“I feel the entire group is wanting ahead to lastly have the prospect to compete at Rally Japan. After all, the goal might be to try to get a very good end result on house floor for Toyota Gazoo Racing. Personally, the final spherical in Spain was not the very best for me however hopefully we will use the rally in Japan to search out some enhancements and put together for subsequent 12 months in a great way. I used to be there in 2019 to recce a few of the phases across the space of the rally and from what I bear in mind the roads had been very demanding with sections that had been extraordinarily twisty and slim and others which had been quicker and extra flowing, so there’ll in all probability be a whole lot of adjustments in character to take care of throughout the rally.”
Kalle Rovanperä (driver automobile 69)
“It’s very good lastly to go to Rally Japan, particularly after the season we now have had with the group and with such good outcomes and the championships already within the bag. It means we will go to Japan extra relaxed and revel in this house rally, and we are going to attempt to push arduous and hopefully have a very good end result on the finish of it. Having seen some phases there three years in the past, I feel it’s going to be a very difficult occasion. There are some wider and smoother roads in addition to some very slim forest sections which will also be fairly soiled. So it’s going to be a tough recce earlier than the rally with roads that we’re not used to and a whole lot of new tempo notes to put in writing.”
ENDS
