Toyota GAZOO Racing World Rally Team has improved cars and a revised driver line-up for its second championship season which begins with the famed Rallye Monte Carlo on January 25-28.
The team’s turbocharged Yaris WRC cars have better aerodynamic balance and upgraded engine cooling – features that have been fully tested in Europe.
Strengthening the driver line-up is Estonia’s two-time WRC event winner Ott Tänak, who joins Jari-Matti Latvala and Esapekka Lappi who were victorious in Sweden and Finland respectively.
Toyota GAZOO Racing has refined its Yaris WRC cars, based on the learnings from its debut season last year and new developments at its base in Finland and engine centre in Cologne, Germany.
Toyota’s return to world rallying saw it finish third in the manufacturer championship, with Latvala fourth in the drivers’ standings.
The wraps came off the new Toyota Yaris WRC cars at the Autosport International show in Birmingham, England.
A revised front aero package for 2018 includes a new bumper and fenders, to better balance the car by increasing front downforce.
The updated cooling system will be a benefit in the hotter rallies of the 13-event WRC calendar, which concludes in November with Rally Australia.
The 2017 red-and-white car livery has been continued with minimal change.
Team principal Tommi Mäkinen said the team is ready to build on its pleasing first season.
“We saw last year that the Toyota Yaris WRC was already capable of winning rallies,” he said.
“This was a great achievement by the team, but the competition also allowed us to discover areas where we can improve.
“With more time and learning, we have been able to update the aerodynamics and improve the engine cooling.
“I’m very excited that we’re going to keep learning this year, as part of our mission to make ever-better cars.”
Leave a Reply