Toyota said today it would return to the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) in 2017 with a car based on a Yaris compact hatchback currently being developed to meet FIA regulations.Team Principal Tommi Mäkinen, Toyota is developing a rally vehicle in Finland for participation from 2017 onwards, with Toyota Motorsport GmbH (TMG) developing the engine.
Under the Toyota GAZOO Racing team name, Toyota will also participate in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), the Nürburgring 24 Hours endurance race, and the Japanese Rally Championship.
In WEC, 2016 will see the debut of the new Toyota TS050 Hybrid race vehicle, with which the team will aim to recapture the series championship and achieve its first win in the 24 Hours of Le Mans this June.
The TS050 Hybrid has a new hybrid system developed at Toyota’s Higashi-Fuji Technical Center. The THS-R powertrain,with not only a new engine, but also front and rear motors/generators with increased capacity. Toyota plans to use these advanced hybrid technologies – where it is already a leader – in its mass-production hybrid vehicles.
At the 2016 Nürburgring 24 Hours endurance race, Toyota will celebrate its tenth year of participation by entering three cars: The Toyota C-HR Racing, and the Lexus RC F and RC.
In the U.S., Toyota will continue to compete in NASCAR events. In South America, Toyota will support Toyota Auto Body Co., who will participate in the Dakar Rally in early 2017.In Japan, Toyota will participate in the Super GT and Super Formula series, both of which are in the top tier of motorsports events within Japan, and will also compete in the Super Taikyu series with the 86 coupe.
As part of its initiatives to cultivate young drivers who hope to compete in high-level international racing events, Toyota will continue to run the Toyota GAZOO Racing Rally Challenge Program for rallies, and the Toyota Young Drivers Program (TDP) for races.
Toyota said it would also actively try to raise awareness of automotive culture, creating a new generation of car enthusiasts in the process. There will be informal motorsports events targeting participation by ordinary customers, such as the Toyota GAZOO Racing 86/BRZ Race, Toyota GAZOO Racing Netz Cup Vitz Race, and Toyota GAZOO Racing Rally Challenge. Additionally, Toyota will also collaborate with dealers to hold a variety of interactive events at circuits and similar venues.
