Latest news with #TGR-WRT
Arab Times
17-05-2025
- Automotive
- Arab Times
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing seals commanding 1-2-3-4 finish at Rally Islas Canarias
MADRID, May 17: TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team (TGR-WRT) showcased complete domination at the Rally Islas Canarias, clinching a stellar 1-2-3-4 finish at the first pure asphalt round of the season in style. The emphatic victory was spearheaded by the electrifying performance of Kalle Rovanperä and co-driver Jonne Halttunen (No. 69 GR YARIS Rally1), marking a grand return to the top of the podium. They were challenged by Sébastien Ogier and co-driver Vincent Landais(No. 17), Elfyn Evans and co-driver Scott Martin(No. 33), and Takamoto Katsuta and co-driver Aaron Johnston(No. 18) to claim second, third, and fourth place, respectively. Akio Toyoda, TGR-WRT Chairman, commented: "This wonderful result we achieved was made possible by the efforts of every single member of TGR-WRT. It was amazing that we could finish 1-2-3-4 with Kalle, Seb, Elfyn, and Takamoto on the roads of Gran Canaria, which we drove for the first time. Even on unfamiliar roads, our engineers and mechanics managed to prepare the cars with setups that the drivers already felt confident with in shakedown." Toyoda added: "We are a team where members can say thank you to each other while fighting together, and TGR-WRT always aspires to be such a team. Thank you, everyone! Great work! This rally, in particular, was filled with everyone's hearts. We have a busy schedule ahead leading up to Rally Finland. Let's continue to push as one team!' In the first rally with the new hard-compound Hankook asphalt tyre, TGR-WRT exhibited a commanding performance. Rovanperä and Halttunen dominated from the start and sealed the top spot by a margin of 53.5 seconds, setting the best time in the rally-ending Power Stage. With this, Rovanperä has become the most successful driver for Toyota in the WRC with 16 career wins. The rally also marked Ogier's strong return to action. Teaming up with Landais, he even bettered Rovanperä in the penultimate stage to secure second place on the podium. By finishing third, Evans and Martin attained their fourth top-three finish of the season. With 43 points, Evans is now the frontrunner for the drivers' championship title. With this emphatic win, Toyota reigns at the top of the table with a strong 208 points in contention for the manufacturers' title. Over the years, Toyota has been participating in many different forms of motorsports, including Formula One, the World Endurance Championship (WEC), and the Nürburgring 24 Hours endurance race. Toyota's participation in these events was overseen by separate entities within the company until April 2015, when Toyota established TGR to consolidate all of its motorsports activities under one in-house brand. Representing Toyota's belief that 'the roads build the people, and the people build the cars,' TGR highlights the role of motorsports as a fundamental pillar of Toyota's commitment to making 'ever-better' cars. Harnessing years of experience gained under the extreme conditions of various motorsports events, TGR aims to forge new technologies and solutions that bring the freedom, adventure, and joy of driving to everyone.
Arab Times
14-05-2025
- Automotive
- Arab Times
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing claims historic 5th consecutive victory at Safari Rally Kenya
NAIROBI, May 14: TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team continued its commanding form in the 2025 FIA World Rally Championship season by securing a fifth straight victory at the formidable Safari Rally Kenya. Elfyn Evans and co-driver Scott Martin delivered an expert performance in their No. 33 GR YARIS Rally1, claiming top honours in what has been widely described as the toughest edition of the rally since its WRC return in 2021. The win marks Evans' first at Safari Rally Kenya and the team's 13th overall victory at the legendary African event, adding another milestone as TGR-WRT celebrated its 100th WRC event since debuting in 2017. Akio Toyoda, TGR-WRT Chairman, commented: 'Elfyn and Scott, congratulations on your victory. Their victory has brought the team three consecutive wins this season and a fifth straight win at the Safari Rally Kenya. We were able to win the rally thanks to Elfyn and Scott, but the roads in Kenya were as challenging as ever. It wasn't an easy victory. We approached Kenya with thorough preparations based on four years of experience there. However, this year we faced new challenges once again. So many things happened up until the last day and the last stage.' Toyoda added: 'We get excited every time we encounter a road that reminds us, 'there is no end to ever-better car making'. Starting tomorrow, everyone in the team will work on improving the GR YARIS Rally1 to make it easier to drive and stronger. And these improvements will extend beyond rally cars to all Toyota vehicles running around the world. The roads of Kenya made us reaffirm the significance of participating in rallies as a car manufacturer. To all the team members, let's work hard to create ever-better cars from tomorrow, and let's enjoy the competition with our rivals.' This year's Safari Rally Kenya covered a punishing 383.1 kilometres of competitive distance and presented drivers with some of the most extreme rallying conditions of the WRC calendar. From treacherous rocky terrain to sections transformed by torrential rain, every kilometre tested the durability of machine and mindset. After a steady start on day one, Evans and Martin moved into the lead on Friday through a measured yet assertive approach. As other competitors faltered in the harsh conditions, the duo maintained consistency to build an advantage of nearly two minutes by the end of day three. On day four, they managed the final five stages with precision and composure, securing victory by 1 minute and 9.9 seconds. This result also marks Toyota's 53rd win and 123rd podium in the WRC since its return to the championship in 2017. With three back-to-back victories in the 2025 season, Toyota now leads the manufacturers' championship with 148 points. Over the years, Toyota has been participating in many different forms of motorsports, including Formula One, the World Endurance Championship (WEC), and the Nürburgring 24 Hours endurance race. Toyota's participation in these events was overseen by separate entities within the company until April 2015, when Toyota established TGR to consolidate all of its motorsport activities under one in-house brand. Representing Toyota's belief that 'the roads build the people, and the people build the cars,' TGR highlights the role of motorsports as a fundamental pillar of Toyota's commitment to making 'ever-better' cars. Harnessing years of experience gained under the extreme conditions of various motorsports events, TGR aims to forge new technologies and solutions that bring the freedom, adventure, and joy of driving to everyone.
