Toyota “nervous” of Hyundai threat ahead of WRC gravel season run
Despite dominating the World Rally Championship season so far, Toyota remains wary of the threat posed by Hyundai, with technical director Tom Fowler admitting to being “nervous” for the remaining gravel events. Toyota has displayed a clear pace advantage over Hyundai at the start of the campaign, and had Sebastien Ogier avoided a puncture in […]
The mental challenge WRC leader Elfyn Evans faces at Rally Japan
World Rally Championship leader Elfyn Evans says his approach will not change for next week’s Rally Japan, but is wary not to fall into the same trap that hampered his title bid last year. The Toyota driver heads to Japan’s asphalt stages leading the championship by 12 points from team-mate and home hero Takamoto Katsuta […]
Why returning to the WRC podium was so important for Oliver Solberg
A return to the World Rally Championship podium for the first time since January was a relief after a mentally challenging Rally Portugal, according to Oliver Solberg. Finishing second in Portugal last weekend was a much-needed result for the Toyota driver’s title aspirations after suffering a mechanical issue in Kenya and costly crashes in Croatia […]
Thierry Neuville inherits lead as Sebastien Ogier suffers penultimate stage puncture
Thierry Neuville inherited the Rally Portugal lead with one stage remaining after World Rally Championship title holder Sebastien Ogier suffered a puncture on the penultimate stage. Ogier headed into stage 22 seemingly on course to score an eighth career Rally Portugal victory, equipped with a 17.3s lead over Neuville. The nine-time world champion had managed […]
How Sebastien Ogier’s near-perfect Rally Portugal unravelled in one puncture
Sébastien Ogier admitted it was “hard to accept” losing a likely World Rally Championship victory in Portugal after running “out of luck” with a penultimate stage puncture. The nine-time world champion produced a wet weather masterclass in treacherous conditions on Saturday to take a 21.9s lead into Sunday’s final four stages, and was seemingly on […]
“We are faster than last year”
Toyota has denied it is «sandbagging» at Spa after both its cars failed to get into Q2 in Friday’s World Endurance Championship qualifying. The Japanese manufacturer could only manage the 12th- and 16th-fastest times in qualifying, just three weeks after it claimed its 50th WEC victory at Imola. The sharp contrast in performance between the […]
Oliver Solberg grabs Rally Portugal lead as Hyundai shows early speed
Toyota’s Oliver Solberg moved into an early lead at Rally Portugal at the end of the opening leg of the first pure gravel event of the World Rally Championship season. Solberg navigated through two traditional rough gravel stages and an asphalt super special with a 3.4s margin over Hyundai’s Adrien Fourmaux. Toyota’s Sébastien Ogier recovered […]
“I’ll keep that to myself”
Nyck de Vries thinks it’s “fantastic” that McLaren will be enter the World Endurance Championship’s top class next year, but did not give a firm answer when asked if he had had any discussions with the team. De Vries joined Toyota’s Hypercar squad in 2024 and also remains active in Formula E with Mahindra. In addition […]
How Ott Tanak can help Toyota’s WRC 2027 car development
Ott Tanak taking on a role to help develop Toyota’s 2027 World Rally Championship car will provide useful information and reduce workload for the team’s current drivers, says Sebastien Ogier. Toyota has enlisted the services of 2019 world champion Tanak to help carry out valuable testing and develop the Japanese brand’s all-new car built to the […]