Photo: Kaido Saar
Not long ago, the “Toyota” factory team went to Estonia to test their new Rally2 class racing car on the roads of South Estonia. If many people associate these roads with beautiful and fast gravel roads, then this time the tests were conducted on asphalt.
If until now we were used to seeing the team’s official test driver Juho Haninen behind the wheel of the new Toyota car, then in Estonia the new car was tested by the young and talented Czech driver Eriks Cais. It is also reported that Stefans Lefebvre, who has a lot of rally experience, including the WRC, also sat at the wheel of the Toyota, which is also confirmed by the photos. The 31-year-old driver has once tested the cars of both Citroen and M-Sport ”Ford Rally2” factory teams.
Lefebvres testos. Photo: Kaido Saar
As written rallit.fithen Cais will probably drive the new “Toyota GR Yaris Rally2” car in the new season.
In one of the previous interviews, Toyota team leader Jari-Mati Latvala revealed that the team’s goal is to debut the new Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 car at the Monte Carlo WRC rally. The team is currently conducting final tests before FIA homologation, which could take place this month.
Photo: Kaido Saar
Latvala portal motorsport.com revealed that in the optimal case, four “Toyota GR Yaris Rally2” cars could start at the Monte Carlo WRC at the same time. “It looks like we will try to do homologation in October and then we will start production of the cars. Our aim is to show the first cars already at the Monte Carlo WRC,” says Jari-Mati Latvala. “Of course, spare parts are needed, but I think realistically we could start with three or four cars at once. If everything goes well, I think four cars on the start is possible.”
Photo: Kaido Saar
After winning the Hokkaido Rally (Latvala started with the new Toyota GR Yaris Rally2), Latvala added: “First of all, this car is very easy to drive. Every customer will be able to adapt to this car very easily in the future. The engine has a high torque, which improves handling, and there’s a lot of suspension travel that works well on rough roads. The car is very stable and really strong. Looking ahead to next year with this car, I think it’s going to be competitive.”
Photo: Kaido Saar
As for who will be driving the GR Yaris Rally2 if it debuts in Monte Carlo, Latvala said: “Of course we are looking at the teams and drivers who are fighting for the top places in Rally2, so that is in our interest. We will be looking at the teams and what drivers they have.”
It should be noted that at the end of September, ERČ pilot Miko Heikila also participated in the asphalt tests.
2023-10-18 21:27:05
#Toyotas #Rally2 #car #tested #Estonia
