Toyota Gazoo Racing claimed a historic result at the legendary Safari Rally Kenya with Kalle Rovanperä leading a clean sweep of the top four positions for the GR Yaris Rally1 car. Welshman Elfyn Evans and Takamoto Katsuta joined him on the podium, with Sébastien Ogier finishing fourth. It is a landmark 10th victory for Toyota on the famous African event, and the first time it has achieved a … [Read more...]
Hirst closes his locker
Matthew Hirst has made it three wins from three starts in this year’s Motorsport UK Pirelli Ravenol Welsh Rally Championship after scoring victory on the Plains Rally on Saturday. Co-driven by the soon to be married Declan Dear, Hirst clinched another impressive victory in his Pirelli-shod Delta Salvage Ford Fiesta R5+, this time winning by 1 minute and 25 seconds. With Hirst’s nearest … [Read more...]
WRC Croatia washout win for Rovanperä
Kalle Rovanperä snatched an extraordinary Croatia Rally victory on Sunday afternoon as a downpour turned the event on its head in the final kilometres of the last stage. The Finn led from the start of the three-day rally in the hills around Zagreb in his Toyota GR Yaris, only for a storm in the penultimate speed test to wipe out his hard-earned advantage. A resurgent Ott Tänak, whose gamble on … [Read more...]
Hybrids hit the hard stuff this weekend in WRC
Kalle Rovanperä starts on the back foot this weekend as he defends an early-season FIA World Rally Championship lead in Croatia at the event that marked his low point of 2021. The Toyota Gazoo Racing driver holds a 14-point advantage ahead of the Zagreb-based Croatia Rally (21 - 24 April), round three of the year and the first pure asphalt fixture of the new hybrid-powered era. Twelve months ago … [Read more...]
Welsh high hopes as new era in WRC flags off today
The Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team will begin a bold new era in the FIA World Rally Championship when the 2022 season begins and the GR Yaris Rally1 makes its debut on the Rally Monte-Carlo from 20 – 23 January. The GR Yaris Rally1 is the successor to the all-conquering Yaris WRC, which claimed a clean sweep of the manufacturers’, drivers’ and co-drivers’ titles in the 2021 season that … [Read more...]
Evans takes Toyota to WRC crown in Italy
Flying Welshman Elfyn Evans helped Toyota win the WRC manufacturers' title for the first time in three years, but it was a bitter sweet result for him. Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia swept to a remarkable eighth FIA World Rally Championship title in nine seasons in Italy on Sunday afternoon. The Frenchmen ended their careers together in style with victory at FORUM8 ACI Rally Monza … [Read more...]
Evans on tenderhook until final WRC round next month
Welshman Elfyn Evans faces a frustrating month's delay before he can make his final bid to win this year's FIA World Rally Championship after an unsettled run in Spain at the weekend. Thierry Neuville stormed to his second FIA World Rally Championship victory of the season with a commanding display at RallyRACC - Rally de España on Sunday afternoon. The Belgian took control of the … [Read more...]
Evans heads into thrilling WRC Spanish fight this week
Two rounds to go – and just two drivers remain in the FIA World Rally Championship title fight as the destiny of the 2022 crown reaches a potentially decisive point in Spain this weekend. Sébastien Ogier can seal his eighth drivers’ title in nine seasons at RallyRACC - Rally de España (14 - 17 October) and the only man who can deny him and take the battle into a final round decider in Italy … [Read more...]
WRC goes on Safari this week, with changes
The mythical Safari Rally Kenya June 24-27, one of the most famous rallies in the world, returns to the FIA World Rally Championship this week for the first time since 2002. The 6000km open-road blasts of yesteryear around East Africa have evolved to fit the modern WRC, but the Safari's epic character remains with punishing dirt roads, picture-postcard scenery and exotic wildlife to the … [Read more...]
Italian water-splash frustrates Welshman
Reigning champion Sébastien Ogier headed a Toyota Yaris 1-2 finish on the Sardinia’s punishing rock-strewn gravel roads to claim his third win of the season last weekend. He finished 46.0sec clear of Elfyn Evans (right), extending his lead to 11 points after five of the 12 events. As championship leader, Ogier started first on Friday’s opening leg, ploughing a line through loose gravel which … [Read more...]