Latest news with #ToyotaGRYARISRally1
Arab Times
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Arab Times
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing achieves historic Rally Estonia victory
TALLINN, Aug 9: TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team (TGR-WRT) returned to the top of the podium at Rally Estonia, powered by a sensational debut performance from Oliver Solberg. Manning the No. 99 Toyota GR YARIS Rally1 alongside co-driver Elliott Edmondson, Solberg claimed his maiden WRC victory, which also marks Toyota's 100th win in the history of the FIA World Rally Championship. The team's efforts have also helped Toyota retain its position at the top of the manufacturers' standings, holding a 52-point lead as the 2025 season passes the halfway mark. Akio Toyoda, TGR-WRT Chairman, commented: 'Oliver, Elliott, congratulations on your victory! I've heard from the team that Juha has been giving Oliver various pieces of advice, as it was his first time competing with the GR YARIS Rally1. I am very grateful to Juha. The next rally is our home rally. We will put on the best performance for the people of Jyväskylä, who always support us. I'm counting on everyone in the team!' Rally Estonia marked a career-defining debut for 23-year-old Solberg, who was handed the opportunity to drive the No. 99 Toyota GR YARIS Rally1 alongside co-driver Edmondson. After two days of testing in Finland, he quickly found his rhythm on Estonia's high-speed gravel roads. Solberg made an immediate impact, winning his first career stage in the opening forest tests to take the rally lead. Two more stage wins later that day gave him a 12.4-second advantage. Despite a reduced road position advantage, Solberg maintained his momentum, adding four more stage wins to extend his lead to 21.1 seconds. Rainfall added to the challenge in the final leg, but Solberg remained composed, securing two more stage wins to bring his total to nine. A measured Power Stage run, where he posted the third-fastest time, sealed a landmark 25.2-second victory and capped one of the most impressive performances in recent WRC memory. With this result, he becomes the third-youngest driver to win a WRC round and the 16th to do so in a Toyota. 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
09-06-2025
- Automotive
- Arab Times
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing ascends the podium once again at Rally de Portugal
LISBON, June 9: TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team (TGR-WRT) is celebrating its sixth successive Rally de Portugal victory since 2019 and an unbroken streak of five wins in the 2025 FIA World Rally Championship season. Sébastien Ogier, alongside co-driver Vincent Landais, conquered 24 punishing gravel stages across northern and central Portugal in the No. 17 Toyota GR YARIS Rally1 to take first place. This victory also marks Ogier's record-breaking seventh win in the country. Teammates Kalle Rovanperä and Jonne Halttunen added to the team's dominance with a strong third-place finish in the No. 69 Toyota GR YARIS Rally1. TGR-WRT now holds the top three positions in the drivers' championship, while Toyota has extended its lead in the manufacturers' standings to 55 points. Akio Toyoda, TGR-WRT Chairman, commented: 'Congratulations to Seb and Vincent for winning Rally Portugal for the second year in a row! It was a rally where we were all impressed once again by Seb's adaptability. This was Seb's first gravel rally in a long while, and his first event with the Hankook gravel tyres. Moreover, he had only one day of testing in the rain before the rally.' Toyoda added: 'I'm also very grateful to all the engineers and mechanics who immediately responded to Seb's feedback. His feedback gave new insights to everyone, and the whole team became even stronger. Six more gravel rounds are coming, including Rally Finland, which is an important home event for us. We hope to make use of what we learned here in Portugal and drive our new silver-coloured GR YARIS Rally1 through the summer gravel rallies that await us from here on!' Rally de Portugal was the first of three consecutive hot and rugged gravel events in southern Europe that put vehicles, tires, and drivers to the test. The first full day of the rally was one of the longest of the season so far, featuring 10 stages interrupted only by two brief remote service halts. Ogier and co-driver Landais ended the day in second place, just seven seconds off the lead. Ogier engaged in a close battle the following day with the leader and took control after his rival was slowed by an issue during the rough afternoon stages. Ogier then carefully managed his advantage through a relatively long final day to ultimately seal victory by 8.7 seconds. Rovanperä and Halttunen completed a double podium for the team with a third-place finish. They also claimed second place in the Super Sunday classification and third in the Power Stage, earning valuable additional points toward the championship. 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. Round 6 of the 2025 FIA WRC calendar takes the championship to Rally Italia Sardegna (June 5-8). Known for its fast yet narrow gravel stages lined with exposed rocks and roadside trees, the rally presents constant challenges for drivers. High temperatures and the event's abrasive surfaces place significant stress on both vehicles and tyres.
