Hydrogen power requires «couple more years» of development, says Toyota WRC boss
Toyota is among the pioneers of hydrogen power in motorsport having invested heavily into developing the fuel as a future environmentally sustainable power source. Last year, the Japanese marque entered a hydrogen-powered GR Corolla into the Fuji 24 Hours, which was driven by then-Toyota CEO and president Akio Toyoda and Latvala. Toyota also used the […]
FIA introduces rule to make WRC Rally1 cars louder in EV mode
Following a a discussion during last week’s World Motor Sport Council in Bahrain, the world motorsport governing body has ratified a new rule which will be enforced from 1 May. The new regulation will require WRC teams Toyota, Hyundai and M-Sport-Ford to fit a sound module to their respective cars, which must produce a minimum […]
M-Sport boss Malcolm Wilson drives WRC Rally1 Ford Puma
The 1994 British rally champion and WRC podium finisher received his first outing in a fully-fledged Rally1 hybrid after piloting the car Jourdan Serderidis will drive at Rally Mexico later this month. Wilson was called upon to shake down the Puma at M-Sport’s purpose-built 1.7mile test track located adjacent to the British team’s Dovenby Hall […]
Toyota “definitely better” on rough gravel after Mexico WRC test
Rough gravel rallies proved to be a weakness for the GR Yaris last year in an otherwise dominant 2022 campaign for the Japanese marque that resulted in a drivers’ and constructors’ title double. Abrasive gravel rallies in Sardinia and Greece were the only events Toyota failed to score a podium last season. The lack of […]
M-Sport hopes Ford’s Red Bull F1 partnership can strengthen WRC team
Last month Ford announced a plan to expand its motorsport commitments by returning to F1 as an engine supplier in conjunction with current world champions Red Bull, coinciding with the launch of F1’s new engine rules. The American brand confirmed that its F1 expansion would not affect its current motorsport programmes, including its long-standing relationship […]
Hybrid will be more effective than ever at WRC Rally Mexico
Mexico’s high-altitude rough gravel stages return to the WRC for the first time since the COVID-shortened event in 2020. The rally will also mark the first gravel round of the 2023 season and a maiden run for the Rally1 hybrid cars at significantly high altitude. Due to a ban on testing outside of Europe, WRC […]
Rally Finland reveals heavily revised 2023 WRC route
One of the WRC’s most famous events, known as the «Gravel Grand Prix», is set for a fresh look this year, with more than half the route changed, while almost a third of the mileage will be completely new for drivers. The ninth round of the 13-round WRC season (3-6 August) will be contested over […]
M-Sport still «has work to do» despite breakthrough WRC win
New signing Ott Tanak’s triumph in Sweden earlier this month ended the Ford squad’s WRC victory drought that had stretched back to January 2022, when Sebastien Loeb scored a famous win in Monte Carlo. This latest win came following a faultless drive from Tanak in only his second WRC appearance driving the Ford Puma. The […]
Toyota set for “very important” Rally Mexico pre-event WRC test
Latvala’s Toyota squad has headed to Spain this week for a multi-day test, beginning today, to prepare for next month’s opening gravel rally of the season in Mexico. While Toyota largely dominated the 2022 season by sweeping both the drivers’ and constructors’ titles, the GR Yaris showcased weakness on rough gravel rallies such as Sardinia […]