Toyota announce return to World Rally Championship in 2017
Toyota will return to the World Rally Championship in 2017, ending what will be an 18-year absence from the sport.
Toyota spent 25 years in rally up to 1999, winning 43 events, along with four drivers’ and three manufacturers’ championships, with famous names including Carlos Sainz, Juha Kankkunen and Didier Auriol at the wheel.
In 2017, the Japanese manufacturer will run a 1.6-litre turbo-charged Yaris that made its first public appearance in Tokyo on Friday.
Several young drivers have already tested the car, with the Frenchman Eric Camilli selected as the first member of a junior driver development scheme designed with the goal of developing Toyota rally stars of the future.
Speaking at the launch, the Toyota Motorsport president, Yoshiaki Kinoshita, said: “It is a great honour to be asked to bring the Toyota name back to the World Rally Championship alongside our continued participation in the World Endurance Championship.
“To run two works motorsport programmes simultaneously is of course a challenge but we believe we have the expertise and determination to succeed. There is much to do as we make the journey back to WRC but to have received the support of Toyota Motor Corporation and our president, Akio Toyoda, is already very encouraging.
“We are looking forward to taking the next steps with an extensive development plan and a junior driver development programme.”