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The TOYOTA GAZOO Racing (TGR) World Rally Team secured a victory at the 2024 FIA World Rally Championship’s "Rally Finland". Sébastien Ogier, along with the co-driver Vincent Landais, raced to first place in the No. 17 GR Yaris Rally1 Hybrid Electric Vehicle ( 2 hours, 25 minutes, and 41.9 seconds), making his return to the FIA WRC’s fastest rally for the first time in nearly three years since claiming his eighth WRC title. This win marked Ogier’s second triumph at Rally Finland, coming after a solid podium finish with Landais in Latvia.
Toyota Gazoo Racing Team Steps up to the Winning Podium
Akio Toyoda, the TGR-WRT Chairman, said: “Seb, Vincent, congratulations for the victory! Throughout this season, whenever they have participated in a rally, they have always come back with a win or a second-place finish. The team has truly relied on their consistency, and I really appreciate it. Jari-Matti once again participated as a driver this year. Last year, he competed in Rally1, and he drove Rally2 this year. It’s an important part of the job for the Team Principal at TGR-WRT to personally feel and understand the cars that the drivers are using.”
Toyoda also added: “Lastly, I heard that Kaj Lindström, who took on the role of Team Principal this time, was going around the team members from early morning until late at night in place of Jari-Matti. I would like to thank him for taking that responsibility in addition to the role of Sporting Director. The next rally is in a month. We will continue to make efforts towards winning the championship in the remaining four events.”
The No. 17 team performed strongly throughout the rally with the GR Yaris Rally 1 Hybrid Electric Vehicle carrying a very unique livery, which was inspired by the Special Edition GR Yaris models they helped to launch earlier this year. With this victory, Ogier joins Sébastien Loeb, Ott Tänak, and Elfyn Evans as the only non-Finnish drivers to win the event multiple times.
Over the years, Toyota has been participating in many different types of motorsports, such as Formula One, the World Endurance Championship, and the Nürburgring 24 Hours endurance race. Toyota’s participation in such events was overseen by separate entities within the company till April 2015, when Toyota established the TGR team, to combine all of its motorsports activities under one in-house brand.
Representing Toyota’s belief, which is the roads build the people, and the people build the cars; TGR emphasizes the importance of motorsports as a key pillar of Toyota’s commitment to making ‘ever-better’ cars. After harnessing years of experience, which was gained under the extreme conditions of various motorsports events, TGR aims to forge new technologies and solutions that will bring the freedom, adventure, and joy of driving to everyone.
The 10th round of the 2024 FIA WRC is Acropolis Rally in Greece on 5-8 September. It has a reputation for rocky mountain roads and high temperatures create a tough challenge for vehicles, tyres and drivers altogether.
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