Tag: rally

JCN Newswire

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing in search of more Swedish snow success

3 2 月, 2023

Toyota City, Japan, Feb 3, 2023 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Sweden was the scene of TGR-WRT's first victory in 2017 when Jari-Matti Latvala - now Team Principal - claimed a shock win in only the team's second event. Since then the team has taken three further wins in the rally's last three editions, including the first victory for the GR YARIS Rally1 HYBRID one year ago in the hands of Kalle Rovanpera.2023 GR YARIS Rally1 HYBRIDThat result kick-started Rovanpera's run to his first drivers' championship, and the Finn will again arrive in Sweden this year effectively leading the race for the title. Last month he completed a one-two finish for TGR-WRT on the season-opening Rallye Monte-Carlo behind Sebastien Ogier -- who heads the standings but does not include Sweden in his part-season programme.Takamoto Katsuta therefore steps up to be part of the main three-car line-up for the first time, alongside Rovanpera and Elfyn Evans -- who won in Sweden in 2020. Having often rallied on snow and ice in Finland as part of his training through the TGR WRC Challenge Program, Japanese driver Katsuta also has a strong record in Sweden, taking a breakthrough WRC2 win there in 2018 and finishing fourth overall last year.TGR-WRT will still have four cars in action in the top category in Sweden, as Italy's Lorenzo Bertelli becomes the first customer driver to compete in the GR YARIS Rally1 HYBRID.Part of the inaugural WRC season 50 years ago, Rally Sweden is the only true winter round on the calendar. Last year it moved to a new home in Umea: the largest city in northern Sweden and closer to the Arctic Circle than it is to the country's capital of Stockholm. As well as providing a greater guarantee of the extreme conditions the rally is known for, the move also brought even quicker roads. Special studded tyres bite into the surface to provide impressive grip; helping make this one the fastest rallies of the year with drivers 'leaning' their cars on snow banks by the sides of the road to carry more speed through corners.The rally will begin on Thursday evening with a short 'sprint' stage in Umea, which is run again on Friday following two loops of three stages: Brattby and Sarsjoliden to the west were driven on Saturday and Sunday respectively last year, while Botsmark to the north is new. Saturday's repeated loop of three stages begins with two new tests: Norrby and Floda, which is the most northerly stage of the rally and also the longest at 28.25 kilometres. A double-length version of the Umea stage rounds out the day, and will also serve as the rally-ending Power Stage on Sunday following two passes of another new test, Vastervik.For more information, visit https://toyotagazooracing.com/wrc/release/2023/rd02-preview/. Copyright 2023 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

JCN Newswire

Second consecutive DAKAR victory for TOYOTA GAZOO Racing

17 1 月, 2023

TOKYO, Jan 17, 2023 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Qatar's Nasser Al-Attiyah and his French co-driver, Mathieu Baumel, successfully defended the Dakar title they won for TOYOTA GAZOO Racing (TGR) in 2022, when they brought their GR DKR Hilux T1+ over the finish line of the final stage of Dakar 2023 on 15 January. The pair lost 5min 41sec to the stage winners, but that hardly mattered, as they sealed the overall victory with a winning margin of 1hr 20min 49sec.The final stage of Dakar 2023 was a 136km-long test that started from the bivouac at Al-Hofuf. Competitors had to complete a short liaison of 167km before taking on Stage 14, which was then followed by a final liaison of 100km to the finish podium in the coastal city of Dammam.For Nasser, this was his fifth win in the Dakar Rally, while Mathieu's tally is now four victories. The pair have won three times for Toyota, with the latest victories coming in a back-to-back display of quality, durability and reliability for the Japanese manufacturer. The pair took over the lead of the event on Stage 3, and never relinquished that position.Giniel de Villiers, who completed his twentieth consecutive Dakar Rally when he crossed the finish line near Dammam, ended the rally in 4th place in the overall standings. This result brings his total number of Top 5 finishes to 15, including one victory in 2009. The South African has only finished outside the Top 10 on one occasion, and his performance in the 2023 Dakar Rally underscores the toughness and tenacity of one of the Dakar Rally's true veteran racers. Together with co-driver Dennis Murphy, Giniel finished this year's 45th edition of the rally 2hr 31min 12sec in arrears.Dakar 2023 will long be remembered by Henk Lategan and co-driver Brett Cummings as a race that could have turned out very differently for them. They moved as high as 2nd place in the overall standings, before two setbacks pushed them down the order. The pair showed great pace throughout the rally, and will be hoping for a truer reflection of their speed in future editions. Even so, they finished in 5th place overall, less than 5min behind their teammates in fourth.Toyota dominated the Dakar 2023 results, with the works TGR crews finishing 1st, 4th and 5th. A privately entered Toyota Hilux T1+ in the hands of the young Brazilian, Lucas Moraes, added to the Japanese manufacturer's tally, by finishing in third place overall. This was Lucas' first attempt at the Dakar Rally, though he had an experienced co-driver in the form of Timo Gottschalk beside him in the car.In terms of the 2023 World Rally-Raid Championship, of which the Dakar Rally was the opening round, Nasser and Mathieu amassed a total of 85 points. This means they trail the log leaders by just two points after Round 1 of the five-round championship. Toyota is in 2nd place in the Manufacturers' championship, just a single point behind the leaders. The next race is the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, which takes place during the last week of February.For more information, visit https://toyotagazooracing.com/dakar/release/2023/0116-01/. Copyright 2023 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

JCN Newswire

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing starts WRC title defence on magical Monte

13 1 月, 2023

Toyota City, Japan, Jan 13, 2023 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team aims to begin the defence of its FIA World Rally Championship titles with a victory on the legendary Rallye Monte-Carlo, which opens the 2023 season on January 19-22.2023 GR YARIS Rally1 HYBRIDTGR-WRT has set its sights on a third successive WRC triple crown following a successful debut season in 2022 for its GR YARIS Rally1 HYBRID car, which swept the drivers', co-drivers' and manufacturers' world championships.The team continues to work hard to improve this winning package, and the most obvious change for 2023 is new rear fender bodywork featuring a revised cooling inlet for the car's hybrid system. Other developments include a new specification of engine with a higher output.After becoming the youngest ever WRC drivers' champion at the age of 22, Kalle Rovanpera returns to defend his crown together with co-driver Jonne Halttunen. They are joined again for the full season by twice championship runners-up, Elfyn Evans and Scott Martin.Eight-time champion Sebastien Ogier commences another partial schedule of rallies on his home roads in the French Alps - where he will target a record ninth Rallye Monte-Carlo victory - and continues to work with co-driver Vincent Landais after they joined forces at the end of last year.Takamoto Katsuta will step up to share the team's third entry with Ogier during the season, while also continuing to gain experience on all the remaining rallies - beginning with Monte-Carlo - in an additional fourth entry alongside co-driver Aaron Johnston as part of the TGR WRC Challenge Program.Rallye Monte-Carlo is the oldest and most famous event on the WRC calendar, and often also one of the most demanding. Changeable weather conditions can mean drivers sometimes face dry asphalt and snow and ice in the same stage. As a result, tyre choice is crucial.As in 2022, the service park will again be located on the harbourfront in Monaco itself, with the rally to start from the iconic Casino Square before two Thursday night stages. The first of these climbs up to finish at the famed Col de Turini, while the second descends from La Cabanette on roads last used at the end of the 2020 edition and is the longest test of the rally at 24.9 kilometres.Friday consists of two loops of three stages to the north-west of Monaco around Puget-Theniers, which hosts a tyre-fitting zone in place of mid-day service. Saturday follows a similar format but is longer, with the action taking place further to the west and crews only due to return to Monaco almost 15 hours after they left. Sunday pairs two passes of the classic Luceram - Lantosque test with two more runs up the Col de Turini, where the rally will conclude at the end of the Power Stage.For more information, visit https://toyotagazooracing.com/wrc/release/2023/rd01-preview/. Copyright 2023 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

Team Mitsubishi Ralliart’s Triton Finishes in First Place Overall at Its First Attempt in the Asia Cross Country Rally 2022

JCN Newswire

Team Mitsubishi Ralliart’s Triton Finishes in First Place Overall at Its First Attempt in the Asia Cross Country Rally 2022

29 11 月, 2022

TOKYO, Nov 29, 2022 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (hereafter, Mitsubishi Motors) announced that Team Mitsubishi Ralliart, which receives technical support from Mitsubishi Motors, participated in the Asia Cross Country Rally (AXCR) 2022 that ran from November 21st to 26th in Thailand and Cambodia with Triton rally cars (Group T1 prototype cross-country vehicles). Over a total distance of 1,524 kilometers (km), including 637 km of timed special stages (SS), driver Chayapon Yotha (Thailand) finished in first place overall, with a total time of 8 hours, 22 minutes and 42 seconds, and driver Rifat Sungkar (Indonesia) finished in fifth position, with 17 minutes and 14 seconds behind the leader.After a three-year absence, the AXCR got under way on the 21st in Buriram in the northeastern part of Thailand, where the first SS of the rally and a ceremonial start were held. Leg 1 on the 22nd to Leg 3 on the 24th included SS located in the area around Buriram. Leg 4 on the 25th saw the rally cross the border into Cambodia after finishing the SS around Buriram, while Leg 5 on the 26th ended at the spectacular ceremonial goal near Angkor Wat, the famed tourist attraction in Siem Reap, Cambodia. The first half of the rally in Thailand consisted mainly of high-speed stages on rough, dry unpaved roads, while the second half was more challenging with large, deep puddles scattered on muddy roads caused by heavy rain, and a tougher course compared to the previous five stages awaited the participants in Cambodia. Chayapon Yotha, driving the car #105 Triton, finished fifth in SS1 on the first day. On the second day, he set the fastest time in SS2, the longest SS of this year's AXCR with a 203 km course, and climbed to the top overall position. After that, the powerful driving performance and nimble handling of the Triton helped him to finish SS3 in seventh, SS4 in sixth, SS5 in fifth, and SS6 in fifth, and he maintained the lead he had established in SS2 to take the overall win. Rifat Sungkar in car #118 finished SS1 in sixth place following his teammate. He was aiming for higher positions, but after suffering a flat tire and subsequent damages to the chassis in SS2, he dropped to eighth position. The team's repair work allowed him to continue the rally the next day, and he finished fourth in SS3, fifth in SS4, fourth in SS5, and seventh in SS6, completing the rally in fifth overall while proving the toughness of the Triton. Sakchai Hantrakul in car #119 tested positive for Covid-19 after SS1 and unfortunately had to retire the rally. Hiroshi Masuoka, team director of Team Mitsubishi Ralliart, commented: "For this year's AXCR, we built on the high reliability and durability of the Triton by tuning the engine and chassis, and entered the rally with specifications relatively close to the production car. Even so, the two Triton rally cars delivered powerful driving, and I am very proud of our high finish. The superb performance came down to the drivers, who were able to extract the Triton's performance and show us some great drives, the engineers who worked every day to fine-tune the vehicles perfectly, all the staff who provided support, and the know-how that Mitsubishi Motors has accumulated over the years. Key to it all was the tremendous support from our sponsors and the passionate messages of support we received from fans around the world. We would like to feed the knowledge we gained through our participation in the AXCR back into the development of production vehicles, and build Mitsubishi vehicles that are even tougher, more powerful, and more reliable." AXCR 2022 Auto Category Overall Results1st Chayapon Yotha (Mitsubishi Triton) - 8:22:422nd Jaras Jaengkamolkulchai (Toyota Hilux Revo) - 8:28:293rd Ikuo Hanawa (Toyota Fortuner) - 8:28:344th Takuma Aoki (Toyota Fortuner) - 8:38:265th Rifat Sungkar (Mitsubishi Triton) - 8:39:566th Tawee Neanna (Isuzu D-Max) - 8:51:24 Daily reports AXCR special website Daily reports from November 21st, the first day of the rally, to the last leg on November 26th are posted on Mitsubishi Motors' AXCR special website. www.mitsubishi-motors.com/en/innovation/motorsports/axcr2022/ Triton rally car on display at Mitsubishi Motors' headquarter showroom Starting on November 21st, the Triton rally car AXCR 2022 replica is on display at the company's headquarter showroom in Tamachi, Tokyo. About Mitsubishi MotorsMitsubishi Motors Corporation (TSE:7211) --a member of the Alliance with Renault and Nissan--, is a global automobile company based in Tokyo, Japan, which has about 30,000 employees and a global footprint with production facilities in Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, mainland China, the Philippines, Viet Nam and Russia. Mitsubishi Motors has a competitive edge in SUVs, pickup trucks and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, and appeals to ambitious drivers willing to challenge convention and embrace innovation. Since the production of our first vehicle more than a century ago, Mitsubishi Motors has been a leader in electrification--launched the i-MiEV -the world's first mass-produced electric vehicle in 2009, followed by the Outlander PHEV -the world's first plug-in hybrid electric SUV in 2013. The company announced a three-year business plan in July 2020 to introduce more competitive and cutting-edge models, including the Eclipse Cross (PHEV model), the all-new Outlander and the all-new Triton/L200.For more information on Mitsubishi Motors, please visit the company's website at www.mitsubishi-motors.com/en/. Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

Team Mitsubishi Ralliart Heads to Asia Cross Country Rally 2022 with the Triton – Rally to Start on November 21

JCN Newswire

Team Mitsubishi Ralliart Heads to Asia Cross Country Rally 2022 with the Triton – Rally to Start on November 21

18 11 月, 2022

TOKYO, Nov 18, 2022 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (hereafter, Mitsubishi Motors) announced that Team Mitsubishi Ralliart, which receives technical support from Mitsubishi Motors, will participate in the Asia Cross Country Rally (AXCR) 2022 to be held from November 21st with three Triton rally cars (Group T1 prototype cross-country vehicles).Team Mitsubishi Ralliart On the first day of the competition, the team will drive a special stage (SS) in Buriram, northeastern Thailand, followed by a ceremonial start, and then will enter a full-scale stage in Thailand from the 22nd, before reaching the goal in Siem Reap, northwestern Cambodia, on the 26th.On November 9th, prior to the opening of the AXCR, Team Mitsubishi Ralliart carried out a shakedown of the Triton rally cars that will compete in the AXCR, on the proving ground of Mitsubishi Motors (Thailand) Co., Ltd. (MMTh) in Si Racha, Chonburi, Thailand. In previous years, the rally had been run in August during the rainy season, which created challenging routes of mud-clogged roads and river crossings, but this year, the COVID-19 pandemic pushed the rally start back to the drier month of November. As a result, in addition to the tough routes, the team is anticipating dry, off-road trails and new challenges including steep gradients. To prepare for these challenges, Team Mitsubishi Ralliart subjected the Triton rally cars to a total of 1,900 kilometers of endurance testing. After checking the reliability and durability of the rally cars while making final engine and chassis adjustments to deliver both powerful performance and ease of handling, the team was able to confirm that the cars are ready for the rally. In Leg 0, a total of 56 machines - 21 vehicles in the motorcycle category, 2 in the sidecar category, 32 in the car category, and 1 in the truck category - will run in an opening SS in the city and then participate in the ceremonial start to be held at the Chang Arena. The rally proper begins on the 22nd with Leg 1, and will be competed over courses in the area around Buriram, until Leg 3 on the 24th. Leg 4 on the 25th takes the rally close to the Thailand and Cambodian border before crossing into Cambodia for the final Leg 5 on the 26th, to the finish line near the World Heritage site of Angkor Wat. Hiroshi Nagaoka, executive vice president of Mitsubishi Motors, commented:"The accomplished engineers of our development team, who had supported the team in winning numerous victories in the World Rally Championship and Dakar Rally, passed down the technology to our mid-career and younger generations and prepared the rally cars for the grueling AXCR. Under the leadership of team director Hiroshi Masuoka, who has won the Dakar Rally two times in a row, I am confident that the team will come together to deliver a strong performance with Mitsubishi Motors-ness. Please look forward to a great showing from Team Mitsubishi Ralliart." Hiroshi Masuoka, team director of Team Mitsubishi Ralliart, commented:"To lead the team to victory as team director, I have drawn on my rallying know-how and experience, built the team organization, and worked to hone our cars. The Triton rally cars have improved with every running, and they are now faster, stronger, and tougher. We have a great service organization in place to support the team, allowing the drivers to apply 100 percent of their own potential. The whole team is ready for this tough challenge." Daily reports on AXCR special website Starting on November 21st, the first day of the rally, and continuing to the last leg on November 26th, Mitsubishi Motors will post daily reports on the company's AXCR special website.www.mitsubishi-motors.com/en/innovation/motorsports/axcr2022/ Exhibition of Triton rally car replica in Japan At the JAF Motorsport Japan 2022 to be held on November 19th and 20th in Odaiba, Tokyo, a Triton rally car AXCR 2022 replica will be on display for the first time in Japan. JAF Motorsport Japan 2022 website (in Japanese only):www.motorsport-japan.com/ Mitsubishi Motors will also display the same car at the company's headquarter showroom in Tamachi, Tokyo, from November 21st, the first day of the AXCR 2022. About Mitsubishi MotorsMitsubishi Motors Corporation (TSE:7211) --a member of the Alliance with Renault and Nissan--, is a global automobile company based in Tokyo, Japan, which has about 30,000 employees and a global footprint with production facilities in Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, mainland China, the Philippines, Viet Nam and Russia. Mitsubishi Motors has a competitive edge in SUVs, pickup trucks and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, and appeals to ambitious drivers willing to challenge convention and embrace innovation. Since the production of our first vehicle more than a century ago, Mitsubishi Motors has been a leader in electrification--launched the i-MiEV --the world's first mass-produced electric vehicle in 2009, followed by the Outlander PHEV --the world's first plug-in hybrid electric SUV in 2013. The company announced a three-year business plan in July 2020 to introduce more competitive and cutting-edge models, including the Eclipse Cross (PHEV model), the all-new Outlander and the all-new Triton/L200.For more information on Mitsubishi Motors, please visit the company's website atwww.mitsubishi-motors.com/en/ Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

JCN Newswire

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Presents 2023 Rally Team Setups

18 11 月, 2022

TOKYO, Nov 18, 2022 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - TOYOTA GAZOO Racing (TGR) announced on November 18 its domestic and international rally entry structure and the outline of TGR Rally Challenge for the 2023 season.TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team (PHOTO BY Noriaki MITSUHASHI / N-RAK PHOTO AGENCY)- In the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), in which TGR will seek its third consecutive title treble, the team of Takamoto Katsuta and Aaron Johnston has been promoted to the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing WRT roster, where they will share the position of driving the third car with the team of Sebastien Ogier and Vincent Landais.- In the Japanese Rally Championship, in which Toyota employees participate as the team principal, engineers, and mechanics, TGR will continue to put into practice its approach of making ever-better motorsports-bred cars, with Norihiko Katsuta and Yusuke Kimura, as well as Tomoyuki Shinkai and Yuichi Ando, coming back from last season to compete in a new vehicle model that is currently under development.- To promote regional development by organizing rallies, TGR will once again work with local communities across Japan to hold the TGR Rally Challenge, in which anyone can compete.TGR will continue its practice of making ever-better motorsports-bred cars and pursuing activities to enhance the appeal and sustainability of motorsports.For more information, visit https://global.toyota/en/newsroom/corporate/38249869.html. Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

JCN Newswire

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing seals manufacturers’ crown in style with Ogier win*

24 10 月, 2022

TOKYO, Oct 24, 2022 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - The TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team has completed an FIA World Rally Championship treble in style by clinching the 2022 manufacturers' title* with a superb win for Sebastien Ogier at Rally de Espana.Team PhotoThe manufacturers' championship success follows the drivers' and co-drivers' titles that were won by Kalle Rovanpera and Jonne Halttunen on the previous rally in New Zealand. It's the second year in a row that the team has managed a clean sweep of the three available titles: An especially notable achievement given that it spans a major revolution in the technical regulations introduced at the start of this season when the all-new GR YARIS Rally1 HYBRID succeeded the Yaris WRC.In total, this is the sixth occasion that Toyota has topped the WRC's manufacturers' classification, the third time since it returned to the series in 2017.The rally win in Spain is the team's seventh of the season and a first for the outgoing eight-time champion Ogier in his part-time campaign. The 55th victory of his career is also a maiden triumph for co-driver Benjamin Veillas.In his first asphalt rally since January's Rallye Monte-Carlo, Ogier was among the pacesetters from the start, winning three stages on Friday to lead despite having to deal with dirtier roads than his rivals in mixed weather conditions. He took three more stage wins in a commanding performance on Saturday as he pulled away from the pack, and went on to win the last two stages of the rally on Sunday - including the final Power Stage - as he clinched victory by 16.4 seconds.Rovanpera was also in the battle for the lead on Friday when he was fastest in four stages, and eventually finished in third position overall. His hopes of second place faded after he was one of several to sustain tyre damage over a drain cover in Sunday's second stage.Elfyn Evans was part of a close-fought top five at the beginning of the rally but was unable to find the perfect feeling to match the rapid pace at the front. A flat tyre on Friday afternoon and another at the same place as Rovanpera on SS17 contributed to him finishing sixth overall - still an important result to help the team towards its main goal.One place further behind in seventh was Takamoto Katsuta who recovered from a difficult start to show strong and consistent speed in his TGR WRT Next Generation entry.*Subject to the official publication of the results by the FIAFor more information, visit https://toyotagazooracing.com/wrc/release/2022/rd12-day3/. Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

JCN Newswire

Rovanperä crowned youngest ever champion with TOYOTA GAZOO Racing

3 10 月, 2022

TOKYO, Oct 3, 2022 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Kalle Rovanpera has become the youngest ever winner of an FIA World Rally Championship title* at the age of just 22 years and one day, after the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team driver and his co-driver Jonne Halttunen secured their maiden crowns in style with victory at Rally New Zealand.Taking the title in only his third season competing at rallying's highest level, Rovanpera is more than five years younger than the previous record holder Colin McRae was when he won the championship in 1995.Rovanpera has been the benchmark driver in the first year of the WRC's new hybrid Rally1 regulations, and his victory in New Zealand is his sixth of the season in the GR YARIS Rally1 HYBRID. Having led the standings since winning round two in Sweden in February, he has now clinched the title with two rallies remaining.His is the eighth WRC title to be won by a Toyota driver and the fourth in as many years. Rovanpera is the first Finnish driver to win the championship for 20 years and the first to do so driving a car built in Finland.Outstanding speed in difficult weather conditions has been a key attribute to Rovanpera's driving in 2022 and was also central to his victory in New Zealand, where the smooth gravel roads were hosting the WRC for the first time in a decade. After finishing the longest day of the rally on Friday in mixed conditions in fourth overall, he excelled on a soaking wet Saturday on his 22nd birthday to take over the lead and build an advantage of almost half a minute.Sunday brought further wet weather for the final four stages but Rovanpera managed his lead ahead of the rally-ending Power Stage. Only a top-four time there was needed to secure the two extra bonus points he required for the championship, but he nonetheless recorded the fastest time - the seventh occasion he has topped the Power Stage this season.The outgoing champion Sebastien Ogier completed a one-two finish for the team together with co-driver Benjamin Veillas on their fourth start of the 2022 campaign. Part of a close four-way fight for the lead earlier in the rally, they played an important role for their team-mates by taking points away from their championship rivals.The one-two finish overall, plus the first and third fastest times from the Power Stage, ensures that the team increases its manufacturers' championship lead to 81 points with 104 left available.For more information, visit https://toyotagazooracing.com/wrc/release/2022/rd11-day4/. Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

JCN Newswire

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Looks Forward to Another Returning Classic

23 9 月, 2022

TOKYO, Sep 23, 2022 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - The TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team makes its first trip to Rally New Zealand determined to compete for the top positions when the event's popular gravel roads return to the world stage for round 11 of the 2022 FIA World Rally Championship on September 29-October 2.2022 GR YARIS Rally1 HYBRIDKeen to look forward after a disappointing weekend on the rough and rocky roads of Acropolis Rally Greece, the team heads to New Zealand with a lead of 63 points in the manufacturers' championship while Kalle Rovanpera leads the drivers' championship by 53 points and has his best opportunity yet to clinch his first title if he can add eight more points to his advantage.Joining Rovanpera and Elfyn Evans - who make their Rally New Zealand debuts - will be reigning world champion Sebastien Ogier, who finished a close second on his previous visit to New Zealand in 2010 and returns to the team's line-up for the final three rounds of the season. Takamoto Katsuta will be another New Zealand first-timer in his TGR WRT Next Generation entry.Back on the WRC calendar after 10 years away, Rally New Zealand is famed for fast and flowing stages that wind their way through the stunning scenery of the country's North Island. The smooth gravel roads are characterised by their pronounced camber which drivers can use to carry more speed through corners.The rally is based in New Zealand's largest city Auckland, with the service park located on its waterfront and the opening stage to take place in the Pukekawa Auckland Domain park on Thursday evening. Friday then features more than half of the rally's competitive distance with 158.56 kilometres to be driven across two loops of classic stages to the south around Raglan, starting with the iconic Whaanga Coast which is followed by two stages around Te Akau. A tyre fitting zone in Raglan separates the two loops, rather than a full service. Saturday takes place to the north of Auckland with two more loops of three stages run either side of service, while Sunday is made up of two repeated stages on the city's eastern side, with the second pass of the purpose-built Jack's Ridge as the rally-ending Power Stage.Quotes:Jari-Matti Latvala (Team Principal)"Personally I am really looking forward to going back to New Zealand and I think it's a rally that our team can look forward to as well. Greece was of course disappointing for us and there are lessons we can take from there to be stronger on similar rallies in the future. But Rally New Zealand is a very different gravel rally. The surface is smoother, the roads are fast and flowing, and the camber makes it feel like you are dancing with the car. The roads are amazing and you don't find them anywhere else in the WRC. I had the pleasure to win there myself in 2010, actually in a very close finish with Sebastien. For the rest of our drivers it will be a new challenge but I think they will all enjoy those roads and I'm confident we can be fighting for the victory once again."Sebastien Ogier (Driver car 1)"After a nice break it's exciting to be getting back in my GR YARIS for these three events to end the season. Rally New Zealand is one of the rallies I really wanted to do this year. I was there once before in 2010 and I have mostly good memories; it was a very close fight until the final corners when a spin handed the win to Jari-Matti. At the time it was hard to take but thankfully I could score my first WRC win just a few weeks later. The rally itself is beautiful with some of the best roads in the world. After this break it won't be easy to get back in the rhythm right away, but like always I will try to compete for the victory and help the team to the best possible result."Elfyn Evans (Driver car 33)"It's going to be exciting to finally have the chance to compete in New Zealand for the first time. I've heard many great things about the event and especially about the roads and how rewarding they are to drive. So if what everybody says is true then I'm sure we're going to have a lot of fun there and hopefully we can have a good rally. It's never easy to prepare for a new event like this, particularly because we're not able to test outside of Europe, but within the team we do at least have some previous experience from New Zealand, not least from Jari-Matti and Seb. We've also been having a look through the archives for old videos of the stages just to get an idea of what we're likely to face."Kalle Rovanpera (Driver car 69)"It will be really interesting to go to Rally New Zealand. I have only heard good things about the country and the rally and how nice the roads are. To prepare we have been watching whatever videos we can to get an overview of how the stages are and to understand what we might need from the car before we get there. Recent rallies have not been ideal for us but we know what we need to improve and we are working hard to have more pace and be more comfortable. Again we will be opening the road in New Zealand but hopefully we can have good speed, enjoy the event and finish with a good result."Please visit www.wrc.com for the latest. Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

Team Mitsubishi Ralliart Announces Team Lineup for Asia Cross Country Rally 2022 in November

JCN Newswire

Team Mitsubishi Ralliart Announces Team Lineup for Asia Cross Country Rally 2022 in November

19 9 月, 2022

TOKYO, Sep 19, 2022 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Mitsubishi Motors Corporation announced that Team Mitsubishi Ralliart, which will compete in the Asia Cross Country Rally (AXCR) with Mitsubishi Motors' technical support, has revealed the team lineup for the upcoming AXCR 2022 to be held from November 21 to 26 in Thailand and Cambodia.Team Mitsubishi Ralliart See here for driver comments: https://youtu.be/LFXxQXiAcfc From Team Mitsubishi Ralliart, Rifat Sungkar (Indonesia), winner of the Indonesian Sprint Rally Championship, and Chayapon Yotha (Thailand), who has won the Thailand Autocross Championship, will drive two Triton rally cars in the Group T1 (prototype cross-country vehicles) category and compete for the higher position. The highly experienced Sakchai Hantrakul (Thailand) will support them in a third Triton support car. Team Mitsubishi Ralliart will have all the resources it needs to take on the AXCR challenge; TANT SPORT (Thailand), which owns the team, is joined by team director Hiroshi Masuoka, a former two-time Dakar Rally champion driver, and Mitsubishi Motors engineers will accompany the team to provide technical support. Team Mitsubishi Ralliart conducted endurance tests of the Triton rally car for 1,100 km at the Grand Prix Motor Park off-road race track in Kanchanaburi, in the west of Thailand, from August 29 to 31. Reducing the weight and improving the output characteristics of the engine have increased drivability, enabling agile handling over the twisty course. In addition, new dual dampers have improved road following performance and contributed to significant improvements in driving stability and rough road drivability. Rifat Sungkar praised the feel of the car in his first experience in the Triton: "Rally drivers pass through many different corners, one by one. Therefore, it is crucial for the rally car to have excellent maneuverability and drivability as the driver intends, and high durability and reliability over rough roads. A good co-driver who can navigate accurately and quickly is also important for a successful result. Through the endurance tests, we were able to confirm that the Triton rally car delivers excellent performance in terms of rough road drivability and durability." Having participated in the previous endurance test in June, Chayapon Yotha responded positively after driving the improved car at anticipated rally speeds:"Speed is not everything in rally competition. In order to win, it is important to maximize the sense of unity between the driver and the rally car, and to control the tempo flexibly between acceleration and deceleration. We have confirmed that the Triton rally car has a great finish and responds precisely and agilely to driver input." Hiroshi Masuoka, team director of Team Mitsubishi Ralliart, commented:"It is a privilege to welcome such talented drivers to the team. Rifat has lots of experience in sprint rallying, so if we do a good job as a team to manage the long-distance aspect of a cross-country rally, he will deliver a great performance. Chayapon has extensive experience in cross-country rallies and improves every time he gets in the car, so I'm expecting good outcomes from him. With regard to the Triton, the two endurance tests enabled us to identify issues and deal with them. We will carry out a shakedown test in November before AXCR 2022, but the Triton is looking good so far and I believe the drivers will be able to deliver tough, solid performances." Team Mitsubishi Ralliart Team Director: Hiroshi Masuoka (Mitsubishi Motors)Team Principal: Chayut Yangpichit (TANT SPORT)Technical Director: Kopong Amatayakul (TANT SPORT)Technical Support (body, chassis): Yasuo Tanaka (Mitsubishi Motors)Technical Support (engine): Takashi Shibayama (Mitsubishi Motors) Drivers and co-drivers: Rifat SungkarFrom: Jakarta, IndonesiaBorn: October 22, 1978 (43)Career: One of Indonesia's top drivers, he has won the Indonesian Sprint Rally Championship in 1997, been an Indonesian Rally Championship winner three years in a row up to 2002, and more. In 2012, he was named brand ambassador for PT Mitsubishi Motors Krama Yudha Sales Indonesia (MMKSI). In 2019 and 2021, he won overall victories at the Indonesian Sprint Rally Championship in a Mitsubishi Xpander.Co-driver: Chupong Chaiwan (Thailand) Chayapon YothaFrom: Udon Thani Province, ThailandBorn: August 16, 1987 (35)Career: He has won numerous races since 2012, including the Thailand Super Series, and RAAT Thailand Endurance Championship International. In 2019, he took victories in the Thailand Super Series' Supercar GTC and other competitions.Co-driver: Peerapong Sombutwong (Thailand) Sakchai HantrakulFrom: Chiang Mai Province, ThailandBorn: November 29, 1962 (59)Career: With more than 30 years of racing experience, he has been crowned champion of the Mitsubishi Gymkhana Challenge RALLIART Cup '89, won Round 1 of the Pennzoil Rally Championship '91 in northern Thailand, and been a winner in many other categories. He is familiar with Mitsubishi vehicles, having driven a Mitsubishi Pajero in the 1996 Dakar Rally.Co-driver: Kittisak Klinchan (Thailand) Visit Mitsubishi Motors' AXCR 2022 page for details about the rally, Team Mitsubishi Ralliart and its vehicles. The site also features photo galleries, videos, and other content.www.mitsubishi-motors.com/en/innovation/motorsports/axcr2022/ About Mitsubishi MotorsMitsubishi Motors Corporation (TSE:7211) --a member of the Alliance with Renault and Nissan--, is a global automobile company based in Tokyo, Japan, which has about 30,000 employees and a global footprint with production facilities in Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, mainland China, the Philippines, Viet Nam and Russia. Mitsubishi Motors has a competitive edge in SUVs, pickup trucks and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, and appeals to ambitious drivers willing to challenge convention and embrace innovation. Since the production of our first vehicle more than a century ago, Mitsubishi Motors has been a leader in electrification--launched the i-MiEV --the world's first mass-produced electric vehicle in 2009, followed by the Outlander PHEV --the world's first plug-in hybrid electric SUV in 2013. The company announced a three-year business plan in July 2020 to introduce more competitive and cutting-edge models, including the Eclipse Cross (PHEV model), the all-new Outlander and the all-new Triton/L200.For more information on Mitsubishi Motors, please visit the company's website atwww.mitsubishi-motors.com/en/ Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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TOYOTA GAZOO Racing concludes a rocky Acropolis weekend

12 9 月, 2022

Toyota City, Japan, Sep 12, 2022 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - The TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team has completed a very challenging weekend at the Acropolis Rally Greece without the overall results it desired but with some important points secured to maintain its advantage in the drivers' and manufacturers' championships.In its second running since returning to the FIA World Rally Championship calendar, the Acropolis lived up to its reputation with slippery and rocky roads and high temperatures providing a considerable challenge. For much of the weekend, the team was in contention for a podium position but those hopes ended early on the final morning when Elfyn Evans had to retire from fourth place after an engine-related issue on the road section to SS14.With this, the team's focus moved to the rally-ending Power Stage. Here, Kalle Rovanpera managed to set the second-fastest time to claim four bonus points. The championship leader experienced a trying weekend after sweeping the loose gravel roads on Friday before losing around 15 minutes on Saturday morning after damaging his car. However, his Power Stage drive ensures he still leads the drivers' championship by 53 points with three rounds remaining.Esapekka Lappi was running in second place on Saturday before he was slowed and forced to stop by a technical issue. Restarting on Sunday, he set the fifth-best time on the Power Stage. With the points scored by Rovanpera and Lappi for reaching the finish combined with those they claimed on the Power Stage, the team remains in the lead of the manufacturers' championship by 63 points.Takamoto Katsuta was the highest-finishing GR YARIS Rally1 HYBRID driver, completing his Acropolis Rally debut in sixth overall to maintain his unbroken scoring run in 2022 with TGR WRT Next Generation.For more information check https://toyotagazooracing.com/wrc/release/2022/rd10-day4/ and for the latest results please visit www.wrc.com.What's next?The WRC heads to Rally New Zealand (September 29 - October 2) for the first time in 10 years. The smooth gravel roads around the capital city Auckland on the country's North Island are hugely popular with drivers for their fast and flowing nature and considerable camber changes. Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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TOYOTA GAZOO Racing going for gold in Greece

2 9 月, 2022

TOKYO, Sep 2, 2022 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - The TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team aims to return to the top step of the podium on the legendary Acropolis Rally in Greece on September 8-11, round 10 of the 2022 FIA World Rally Championship.2022 GR YARIS Rally1 HYBRIDMap Acropolis Rally Greece 2022The Acropolis returned to the WRC calendar in 2021, having been an almost permanent fixture up until 2013 with a reputation for rocky mountain roads and high temperatures which combine to create a tough challenge for the cars, tyres and drivers.Kalle Rovanpera, who won the event at the first attempt last year, has a lead of 72 points with four rounds remaining and the possibility to write his name in history in Greece if he can finish the rally on the podium, depending on others' results.After finishing second last time out in Belgium, Elfyn Evans is third in the standings and one of those also still in contention for the drivers' title. Following two podiums in the last two rounds, Esapekka Lappi will contest the Acropolis for the first time since 2014, while Takamoto Katsuta will make his event debut with TGR WRT Next Generation.This year's rally begins with a Thursday night superspecial stage in the Athens Olympic Stadium, which previously hosted the WRC in 2005/06. From there crews head directly west to Loutraki, ready for two passes of the stage of the same name on Friday morning, sandwiching a single pass of the adjacent Harvati. The afternoon journey north to the service park in Lamia includes three more stages: a tyre-fitting zone separates the new Dafni and Livadia tests, which are followed by Bauxites. Saturday consists of two loops of three stages west of Lamia and almost half of the rally's competitive distance. Pyrgos is the longest stage of the weekend at 33.2 kilometres and precedes the returning Perivoli and famous Tarzan test. On Sunday, Elatia-Rengini separates two passes of Eleftherohori, the second forming the rally-ending Power Stage.Quotes:Jari-Matti Latvala (Team Principal)"After being very close to the victory in the last two rallies, we go to Greece really wanting to win, but we know that it won't be easy on such a tough event. The Acropolis is a legendary rally and it's great to have it back on the calendar since last year. We saw that the gravel roads there are generally not quite as rough as they were in the past. This means that, although reliability is still really important, we also need to have a strong level of performance. Kalle took a great victory last year in difficult conditions and rain which is of course not typical in Greece. Repeating that will be difficult now he is running first on the road, especially as most of Friday's stages are run only once, but Kalle has been handling this challenge very well so far this season. Elfyn and Esapekka have also been very strong recently and hopefully they can continue in a similar way in Greece."Elfyn Evans (Driver car 33)"I'm looking forward to the Acropolis Rally. After the high-speed nature of Estonia and Finland, Greece will offer a very different challenge for a gravel rally. Sardinia was the last rough gravel event we had in Europe and we had quite a good feeling with the car there and good speed, even though we didn't get the result at the end of the weekend. There are still things we can improve, and hopefully we can pick up where we left off and keep making steps forward in Greece. Most likely it will be a hot and tough rally like the Acropolis is known for, but we saw last year with the rain that we can't be completely certain about the weather."Kalle Rovanpera (Driver car 69)"Belgium was a difficult weekend for us, so in Greece we just need to get back at the level where we should be and try to have a good rally. The championship is never over until it's over so we can't think about it too much: We're just trying to get good points from each event and control what we can. Greece was a really nice rally for us last year but our chances this time will probably depend a lot on the weather. If it's going to be dry then I think it's going to be really tricky for us to open the road on Friday. If so, it probably won't be much easier for our rivals just behind us, and hopefully we can still make the best of the situation."Esapekka Lappi (Driver car 4)"In Greece we will be going to something that's quite unknown for me. I did the rally once before in 2014 when it was a round of the European championship, but half of it was on asphalt then, so there will be a lot that's new to discover. But I had also not been to Ypres for eight years and we finished on the podium there. So we will try and aim for something similar again this time. We had good speed and a good feeling on similarly rough gravel roads in Sardinia, and hopefully we can find that again in Greece."Please visit www.wrc.com for the latest. Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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Another double podium for TOYOTA GAZOO Racing

22 8 月, 2022

TOKYO, Aug 22, 2022 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - The TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team has scored another double podium finish at Ypres Rally Belgium as Elfyn Evans finished just five seconds away from victory in second position with Esapekka Lappi in third.In their second time hosting a round of the FIA World Rally Championship, the farmland roads of the West Flanders region again lived up to their historic reputation as one of rallying's most demanding asphalt tests with frequent surface changes and little margin for error.Kalle Rovanpera was one of many drivers to be caught out when he rolled on Friday morning's second stage: a first significant setback in what has been an outstanding season so far from the young Finn. An extensive rebuild of his car by the team's technicians allowed Rovanpera and co-driver Jonne Halttunen to return under restart rules the next day and target points in the rally-ending Power Stage over the famous cobbled climb of the Kemmelberg. There they set the fastest time to leave Belgium with their championship lead still a commanding one at 72 points with four rounds remaining.Evans and his co-driver Scott Martin took over the lead when Rovanpera dropped out, but a slow puncture that compromised their tyre strategy and a 10-second penalty for arriving late to one stage meant they ended Friday third overall and 13.7 seconds from the lead. Having fought back on Saturday and gained second overall, Evans continued to close the gap to the leader Ott Tanak with two stage wins on the final morning, but just fell short in the end.Lappi and co-driver Janne Ferm scored their third podium from six starts and second in as many weeks with a superbly consistent and clean weekend on a rally where their only previous experience came eight years ago, having already had top-four pace from the start. The result ensures TGR still has a strong lead of 88 points in the manufacturers' championship.Takamoto Katsuta recovered from an issue on Friday morning to finish fifth in his TGR WRT Next Generation entry with co-driver Aaron Johnston, and is now the only driver to have finished every rally in the top 10 this season.The public debut of the innovative GR Yaris H2 concept took place on the stages in Belgium, and was completed by Toyota rally legend Juha Kankkunen driving the Power Stage ahead of the competitive field in the hydrogen-fuelled car, running on Pirelli tyres. After driving the GR Yaris H2 himself on Saturday, Team Founder Akio Toyoda had the chance to ride alongside Kankkunen on the most varied stage of the weekend before greeting his drivers at the podium.For more information, visit https://toyotagazooracing.com/wrc/release/2022/rd09-day3/. Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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Rovanpera extends WRC lead with rapid home run for TOYOTA GAZOO Racing

8 8 月, 2022

TOKYO, Aug 8, 2022 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team's Kalle Rovanpera has further extended his FIA World Rally Championship lead with a well-calculated drive to second place on a ferociously fast Rally Finland, as team-mate and fellow Finn Esapekka Lappi survived remarkable late drama to join him on the podium at their home rally.Tasked with sweeping the gravel roads around their hometown of Jyvaskyla, Rovanpera and co-driver Jonne Halttunen ended Friday 21 seconds from the lead and fourth overall on a rally known for high speeds and narrow margins. Willed on by the local support in the spiritual home of rallying, Rovanpera was then rapid through the longest day of the rally on Saturday and fastest in six out of eight stages to climb to second overall and slash the gap to the leader to 8.4s.He thus went into the final day still eyeing a famous home win, but was not in a position to risk everything while on course to strengthen his grip on the championship and ultimately had to settle for second place, only 6.8s behind Ott Tanak. He did however take the maximum five bonus points for the fastest time in the rally-ending Power Stage, which increases his advantage to 94 points with five rallies remaining.The first Rally Finland for the new generation of hybrid Rally1 cars was the fourth-fastest WRC round of all time, and the incredibly close lead fight required drivers to have good confidence in their cars despite limited testing on such roads. The GR YARIS Rally1 HYBRID recorded the quickest time in 15 of the 22 stages.Lappi led the Toyota charge through Friday and much of Saturday, before a freak incident with a rock that deflected up and damaged his windscreen, hampering visibility. He was to encounter further drama in the penultimate stage of the rally, which was heavily rutted. One such rut on the exit of a corner caused him to roll over three times. He was able to complete the stage while losing only 20 seconds and remaining third overall, but he and co-driver Janne Ferm had to carry out roadside repairs including removing the car's windscreen and topping up a radiator. Incredibly, despite the obvious damage, they lost only 10 further seconds in the final stage to hold onto third by a relatively comfortable 16.9s and score their second podium of the season.Like his team-mates, Elfyn Evans was also part of the thrilling lead battle for much of the weekend before having to make repairs of his own after damaging his suspension on Saturday afternoon. He and co-driver Scott Martin still finished fourth overall and took third in the Power Stage: Points that ensure TGR increased its manufacturers' championship lead by one point to 88.Takamoto Katsuta and co-driver Aaron Johnston ensured there were four GR YARIS Rally1 HYBRIDs inside the top six for almost the entire rally. By finishing sixth they continue their unbroken 2022 scoring run for TGR WRT Next Generation after Katsuta's strongest performance yet on the roads around his Finnish hometown.For more information, visit https://toyotagazooracing.com/wrc/release/2022/rd08-day4/. Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

JCN Newswire

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Ready to Defend Unbeaten Home Record

29 7 月, 2022

TOKYO, Jul 29, 2022 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - The TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team will compete on home soil at Rally Finland on August 4-7 and target another victory on the fastest round of the season with its driver line-up of championship leader and hometown hero Kalle Rovanpera, his fellow Flying Finn Esapekka Lappi and defending event king Elfyn Evans.The GR YARIS Rally1 HYBRID takes to its home roads around Jyvaskyla having performed strongly so far in its debut season with victories in five of the last six events. It has a tough act to follow though at Rally Finland, where its predecessor the Yaris WRC won all four editions held between 2017 and 2021. A dominant display on the most recent round in Estonia on similarly fast roads provides the team with confidence, but a single pre-event test over the coming days will be crucial for tailoring the car setup to the specific characteristics of Finnish gravel stages.The rally-mad Finnish public is expected to turn out in their numbers to cheer for Jyvaskyla-born Rovanpera in particular following his outstanding form in 2022. He increased his championship lead to 83 points with his fifth win in Estonia, but is taking nothing for granted as he looks to improve upon a challenging top-level debut on Rally Finland in 2021.Lappi is also a local favourite, hailing from around an hour from the service park, and claimed his maiden FIA World Rally Championship victory on the event with TGR in 2017. Evans meanwhile achieved an epic win at last year's Rally Finland and finished a strong second last time out in Estonia, rising to third in the championship. Takamoto Katsuta should also feel at home in his TGR WRT Next Generation entry, having learned his trade on Finnish roads as part of the TGR WRC Challenge Program.Renowned for its smooth and fast forest roads featuring numerous crests and jumps, Rally Finland is returning to its traditional summer date for the first time since 2019. The rally begins with an extended version of the mixed-surface Harju stage in the centre of Jyvaskyla, which is revisited in shorter form after Friday morning's loop of two repeated stages to the north. Another two stages to the west are run twice in the afternoon. Saturday as usual takes the crews south for four stages around Jamsa, each to be repeated after midday service. Sunday's double loop pairs the Oittila stage with Ruuhimaki which once more hosts the rally-ending Power Stage.For more information visit https://toyotagazooracing.com/wrc/release/2022/rd08-preview/. Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

Team Mitsubishi Ralliart Conducts Endurance Tests of the Triton Rally Car for the Asia Cross Country Rally 2022 in November

JCN Newswire

Team Mitsubishi Ralliart Conducts Endurance Tests of the Triton Rally Car for the Asia Cross Country Rally 2022 in November

18 7 月, 2022

TOKYO, Jul 18, 2022 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Mitsubishi Motors Corporation announced that Team Mitsubishi Ralliart, which will compete in the Asia Cross Country Rally (AXCR) 2022 with Mitsubishi Motors' technical support, has conducted endurance tests of the Triton rally car on an off-road course in Thailand on June 27th and 28th, confirming that preparations for the rally are proceeding smoothly.Testing of the Triton Rally Car Video of the testing: https://youtu.be/lIgH6KQDF_c The endurance tests subjected the car to high loads comparable to those expected in the rally and focused mainly on the reliability and durability of the chassis and engine. To test the performance of the rally car in an environment similar to that of the actual course, the Team used a 10-kilometer course that combines a high-speed range, rough gravel road and a narrow, winding forest course. "Since the Triton has a robust chassis frame and an excellent handling performance, we decided to reduce the vehicle weight at a minimum for the rally modification while leveraging its original strength as much as possible," said Hiroshi Masuoka, team director of Team Mitsubishi Ralliart. "Having covered more than 800 kilometers in two days, the rally car showed its great performance throughout the tough endurance tests as we expected, and now we are confident that our preparation is on the right track." AXCR is a grueling, week-long, 2,000-kilometer cross-country rally that races through the unique natural terrain of Southeast Asia. Normally held in August of each year, the rally was canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, the dates for the rally were pushed back to November 21st to 26th, and the course will be about 1,700 kilometers long, beginning in Buriram in the northeast of Thailand before crossing into Cambodia and ending at the World Heritage site of Angkor Wat. Triton rally car overview The Triton rally car is classified as a F?d?ration Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) Group T1 rally car (prototype cross-country vehicle). Based on the Thailand-specification double-cab model, the car?s hood, front and rear doors, interior and other parts have been lightened, while the body has been strengthened with a roll cage and under guards. The dedicated rally car suspension provides superb handling characteristics, while the front and rear limited-slip differential (LSD), large-diameter off-road tires and lightweight alloy wheels dramatically improve handling on rough road surfaces. Tuning of the 2.4 L diesel turbo engine has focused on reducing friction loss and weight, and improving responsiveness in the mid-speed ranges frequently used in rallies. Some AXCR stages include river crossings, so water-proofing modifications have also been added, such as stronger sealing and an air-intake snorkel.For more information, visit www.mitsubishi-motors.com/en/newsrelease/2022/detail1384.html. Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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TOYOTA GAZOO Racing reaches for top gear at the halfway stage

8 7 月, 2022

TOKYO, Jul 8, 2022 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - The TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team arrives at the midway point of the 2022 FIA World Rally Championship season at Rally Estonia (July 14-17): the first of two back-to-back events on fast gravel roads in the north of Europe.2022 GR YARIS Rally1 HYBRIDEstonia was the scene of Kalle Rovanper's maiden WRC victory one year ago. Since then, the young Finn has taken five further victories, including four in the last five events to build a lead of 65 points in the drivers' championship.TOYOTA GAZOO Racing heads the manufacturers' standings by 62 points after a historic 1-2-3-4 finish on last month's Safari Rally Kenya led by Rovanpera, Elfyn Evans and TGR WRT Next Generation driver Takamoto Katsuta. Esapekka Lappi will return to the TGR WRT line-up in Estonia alongside Rovanpera and Evans for his fourth start of the season.Rally Estonia offers a very different challenge to the three previous rounds on gravel, with smooth and fast roads featuring many jumps and crests, although the soft and sandy surface can become rutted for the second pass of each stage.The rally is based in Tartu, Estonia's second largest city, and begins on Thursday evening with a short super special next to the service park. Both Friday and Saturday feature a loop of four stages to be run twice either side of mid-day service. Another pass of the super special to round out Saturday's action and an extended version around the Raadi airfield, run in the opposite direction to last year's Power Stage, opens two loops of three stages on Sunday. The rally-ending Power Stage once more takes place over the Kambja test, as it did in 2020.For more information, visit https://toyotagazooracing.com/wrc/release/2022/rd07-preview/. Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

JCN Newswire

GR YARIS Rally1 wins African epic with incredible 1-2-3-4 finish

27 6 月, 2022

TOKYO, Jun 27, 2022 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - TOYOTA GAZOO Racing has claimed a historic result at the legendary Safari Rally Kenya with Kalle Rovanpera leading a remarkable clean sweep of the top four positions for the GR YARIS Rally1 car. Elfyn Evans and Takamoto Katsuta joined him on the podium with Sebastien Ogier in fourth.PodiumIt is also a landmark 10th victory for Toyota on the famous African event, and the first time it has achieved a 1-2-3-4 finish in the WRC since the very same rally in 1993. Only once has any other manufacturer achieved the same feat in the championship in nearly three decades since.In its second running since returning to the WRC calendar last year, the Safari delivered even tougher conditions, including deep 'fesh-fesh' sand on Friday and wet and muddy surfaces on Saturday in addition to the ever-present rocks and stones. It was by far the hardest challenge yet for the new generation of hybrid-powered Rally1 cars, but the GR YARIS survived everything that the Kenyan terrain could throw at it to remain reliable and dominate the weekend without any major issues. The next best-placed car finished eight-and-a-half minutes adrift of the Toyota quartet.Rovanpera had an early scare when he ran wide on the very first corner on Thursday's opening super special in Nairobi and knocked a tyre off its rim. But he and co-driver Jonne Halttunen ran faultlessly thereafter on the way to their fourth victory in five rounds, increasing their championship lead to 65 points.Evans and his co-driver Scott Martin also performed superbly and ran their team-mates close for the victory, remaining within 20 seconds of the lead until the rain hit on Saturday afternoon. They finished up 52.8s away as they scored their second podium of the season.TGR WRC Challenge Program driver Katsuta once more drove an excellent and smart rally in the demanding conditions of Kenya to claim his second career podium, one year on from taking his first at the very same event. It's also a maiden podium for his co-driver Aaron Johnston, the pair entered under the TGR World Rally Team Next Generation banner.Ogier, the 2021 event winner, led for most of Friday in the defence of his crown until he had to stop and change a tyre on the day's final stage, losing over two minutes. He and co-driver Benjamin Veillas fought back to fourth overall and, with their team-mates focused on reaching their finish, set the third-fastest time in the rally-ending Power Stage to add to the team's points haul from the weekend. Its manufacturers' championship lead has increased to 62 points.Quotes:Akio Toyoda (Team Founder)"Kalle, Jonne, congratulations!Elfyn, Takamoto, Seb, thank you for making the wonderful result!Aaron, congratulations on your first podium!TGR's first ever 1-2-3-4 finish was achieved thanks to our crews who brought the cars back safely on such tough roads in Kenya. This event reminded us how important it is to drive through the rally without trouble. Not only the crews, but I also appreciate the team's support behind it.Not staying disappointed by the result in Sardinia, the team did a great job to prepare for Kenya in a short space of time. I heard some parts were even completed only after arriving in Kenya. Mechanics and engineers kept discussing between services and did not stop making improvements for the rough surfaces. I'm proud that the team is implementing ever-better car making through the rallies taking place on real roads.Kalle went wide and his car got damaged on the first day. Many were worried but his mechanics were very confident with a smile and they managed to fix it back in 15 minutes. Of course Kalle's driving is amazing to win the rally from this position, but the mechanics' skills and confidence are great as well.I'm most pleased to feel that this wonderful achievement is the result of the team's strength that we have built up over the years. We cannot forget that the fans' support is also helping the team a lot. I appreciate your continuous support for the second half of the 2022 season.P.S.Thank you to those from Toyota Kenya who came to cheer for the team. Thanks to your warm welcome and support, we were able to enjoy this rally as another home event!"Jari-Matti Latvala (Team Principal)"To achieve a 1-2-3-4 here at the Safari Rally is an exceptional result. It's nearly 30 years since Toyota managed the same feat here in Kenya with the Celica and I can only thank our team and our drivers for the superb job they have done. When we were developing the GR YARIS Rally1 we focused above all on making a really strong and reliable car. This was really the most important thing on this event and the car has worked really well in such difficult conditions. Our drivers have also driven this rally exactly the way it needs to be driven, which is in a very smart way, and it was great to see them all thinking about the result for the team rather than their own personal ambitions."Sebastien Ogier (Driver car 1)"It has been a really strong weekend. I was only missing a bit of luck but that's part of the game. Most of all, I'm happy to be a part of this amazing result for the team and I want to congratulate everybody at TOYOTA GAZOO Racing because it's been a great effort to provide all four of us drivers with such a strong car for three full days on the toughest rally of the season. This rally was a tough challenge up to the end so the whole team deserves a big round of applause, and also my team-mates because they drove very well this weekend."Elfyn Evans (Driver car 33)"It's been a really nice weekend. Of course we really wanted to fight for the win, but that slipped away from us on Saturday with one thing or another, and today was about securing this 1-2-3-4 for TOYOTA GAZOO Racing which is obviously a fantastic result to be a part of. It was a tough fight to get through this extreme terrain here in Kenya and while everybody else has struggled, our cars have really come through it so a big well done to the team."Kalle Rovanpera (Driver car 69)"This is a result that I don't think we could have even imagined before the event. To have a top four that is all Toyota is something amazing and such a great result for the team. It was the hardest rally I've ever done, so to have all four cars at the finish with no big issues, it's clearly the strongest and fastest car. For myself to get the win here like this in such a special rally is really nice. Thank you to the team, everybody did a great job. They are developing the car all the time which is important and that's helping us to put some good results together."For the latest results please visit www.wrc.com.What's next?Rally Estonia (July 14-17) takes place over fast and smooth gravel roads with many crests and jumps, as well as some more technical sections. Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

JCN Newswire

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing into Africa to defend Safari crown

17 6 月, 2022

TOKYO, Jun 17, 2022 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - The TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team heads to Safari Rally Kenya on June 23-26 with the goal of defending its crown on the iconic African event.2022 GR YARIS Rally1The Safari made a long-awaited comeback to the FIA World Rally Championship calendar in 2021 when Sebastien Ogier led a one-two finish for TOYOTA GAZOO Racing. Ogier is making Kenya his third WRC appearance of the 2022 season as the team targets a 10th victory on the event for the Japanese marque.The team's first priority is to return to the podium after a challenging previous round in Sardinia, although Kalle Rovanpera still left the Italian island having increased his drivers' championship lead to 55 points. Both Rovanpera and Elfyn Evans will be motivated for the trip to Kenya after experiencing its pitfalls on their debuts there last year. Takamoto Katsuta, on the other hand, travels back to the scene of his maiden podium finish (after finishing second to Ogier one year ago) as he looks to continue his 2022 scoring streak for TGR WRT Next Generation.Having previously featured incredibly long stages on roads that were still open to the public, today's Safari Rally runs to a format similar to other modern WRC rounds. Still, the drivers and cars face incredibly demanding gravel roads with some very rough and rocky sections, while the weather has the potential to dramatically change the conditions in a very short space of time.Shakedown takes place on Wednesday before the rally begins on Thursday lunchtime from capital city Nairobi, with the nearby Kasarani super special kicking off the competitive action. The rest of the weekend is centred around the service park on the shores of Lake Naivasha, around 100 kilometres to the north-west. Friday's repeated loop of three stages around the lake includes a brand new test, Geothermal, as well as the weekend's longest: the 31.25 kilometres of Kedong. Saturday takes place further north close to Lake Elmenteita with two passes of three familiar stages from 2021, although Soysambu has been extended and Elmenteita itself will be run in the opposite direction to before. A trio of stages south of Naivasha are all run twice to form Sunday's final day, including the new Narasha test and Hell's Gate, which hosts the rally-ending Power Stage.Quotes:Jari-Matti Latvala (Team Principal)"It was exciting to have the Safari Rally back on the calendar last year and even though the rally is very different to before, the spirit of the event is the same: it's more about endurance than outright speed. At one stage it looked like it would be difficult for us to even be on the podium and in the end we finished one-two. So again this year we need to be prepared for anything to happen, and it will be another big test for the Rally1 cars. The conditions can look good during reconnaissance and then turn out to be very demanding in the rally. It's not rough all of the time but you can get quite a lot of big ruts with many really soft and sandy places. But all four of our drivers can count on the experience they gained last year and have some idea of what to expect."Sebastien Ogier (Driver car 1)"I'm looking forward to returning to Kenya. Last year we had a really nice welcome and a great atmosphere. It was something special and different to what we are used to. To win was the cherry on the cake and it will be great to try to repeat that this year with a bit of knowledge of what to expect from the stages. We saw that it can be a very tough rally; I think nearly everybody had an issue at some point and we came back from over two minutes down to win. So it's definitely a rally where you have to never give up, and this year with the cars still being so new, we might have to be even more clever than before."Elfyn Evans (Driver car 33)"Even though we have experience from last year, it's always difficult to know exactly what we're going to face on an event like the Safari Rally. There's always an element of the unknown, and we saw last year that the conditions can change massively from one area to the next. Some sections can be very soft sand, some parts are much more hard-packed, and in other places it's very rough. It's a big challenge for the drivers, for the cars and for the engineers as well. I've had a good feeling with the GR YARIS Rally1 on gravel so far and the speed has been there. Safari requires something slightly different in terms of setup but hopefully that positive feeling will still carry forward."Kalle Rovanpera (Driver car 69)"I think the Safari Rally will be another interesting weekend. Of course Sardinia was maybe not as strong a rally for us as we wanted it to be, but I'm hoping that in Kenya maybe we will not lose so much time opening the road and we can try to have a good weekend. Last year, it was a good rally for us overall, we were just a bit unlucky to get stuck when we did at the end of Friday. This year we will try to avoid things like that and tackle the event in a better way, because we see a lot of difficult conditions there and things we don't normally see in modern rallies. So for sure it's a special place and you need to approach it a bit differently too."Please visit www.wrc.com for the latest. Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)