Kalle Rovanperä claimed one of the most remarkable victories in FIA World Rally Championship history at ORLEN 80th Rally Poland on Sunday. Reigning world champion Rovanperä, who is undertaking a selected programme of events in 2024, had never even planned to start this rally but was called upon by his Toyota GAZOO Racing team to replace Sébastien Ogier at the final hour. Ogier was sidelined by an … [Read more...]
Sébastien Ogier accident forces him out of Rally Poland start
Kalle Rovanperä has been given just 48 hours to prepare for ORLEN 80th Rally Poland 27 – 30 June after he was called in to replace Toyota team-mate Sébastien Ogier late on Tuesday. While this week’s fixture did not originally form part of the Finnish youngster’s part-time 2024 WRC schedule, a dramatic Tuesday leading up to the event resulted in Rovanperä and his co-driver Jonne Halttunen boarding … [Read more...]
Toyota lead out of Africa
Kalle Rovanperä became a two-time winner of Safari Rally Kenya on Sunday afternoon by a slim 1m 37.8s victory margin having led since Friday morning. In by far the most gruelling FIA World Rally Championship round so far this season, it was Rovanperä’s meticulous balance of both speed and maturity that ultimately secured his 12th career victory. The Finn, co-driven by Jonne Halttunen, built a … [Read more...]
Rovanperä clinches second WRC crown
Kalle Rovanperä has become a two-time WRC champion, clinching the title on Sunday after finishing second overall at Central European Rally with Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team. By finishing runner-up to Thierry Neuville at this penultimate round, the 23-year-old ensured he can no longer be caught in the 2023 season. Just one year ago, Rovanperä made history when he became the youngest ever … [Read more...]
Evans leads Toyota to another WRC title
Welsh driver Elfyn Evans led the Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team to the manufacturer's title in the World Rally Championship at the weekend in South America. The team retained their crown as manufacturers’ champions and are guaranteed another clean sweep of FIA World Rally Championship titles in 2023 after an exciting finale to Rally Chile on Sunday. Elfyn Evans (above) finished third, … [Read more...]
Elfyn Evans relishes this week’s Rally Chile
Toyota Gazoo Racing return to South America this week to compete in Rally Chile, the 11th event in the 13-round 2023 FIA World Rally Championship, taking place from today until Sunday. This will be Chile’s second WRC event, following the championship’s debut visit four years ago when Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team (TGR-WRT) claimed victory. After a maximum score last time out in Greece, … [Read more...]
Toyota 1st & 2nd on WRC Greece
Kalle Rovanperä scored his third victory of the season in Greece on Sunday afternoon to tighten his grip on this year’s FIA World Rally Championship while Welshman Elfyn Evans is close behind. The 22-year-old (above) had looked set to bring up the rear of the podium at this 10th round but found himself topping the standings by more than two minutes after Saturday’s penultimate leg when former … [Read more...]
Greek tragedy or triumph awaits WRC teams
The pressure is steadily mounting on FIA World Rally Championship leader Kalle Rovanperä as the Toyota Gazoo Racing star aims to keep his team-mate Elfyn Evans at bay during this week’s EKO Acropolis Rally Greece staring today and running until Sunday. Rovanperä, who made history in 2022 as the youngest-ever WRC champion, had his points advantage significantly reduced after a dramatic exit from … [Read more...]
Toyota make it three in Estonia and extend WRC lead
Kalle Rovanperä has stormed to a dominant Rally Estonia victory for the third year in a row with Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team, extending his lead in the FIA World Rally Championship. Guided by co-driver Jonne Halttunen, Rovanperä (below) once again looked completely at home aboard his GR Yaris Rally1 Hybrid on some of the fastest roads in the WRC. He held a narrow lead at the end of … [Read more...]
Toyota dominate legendary Safari rally
TGR-WRT remain unbeaten on the toughest round of the FIA World Rally Championship since it returned to the calendar in 2021, with Toyota’s all-time Safari record now extended to 11 victories – 10 of those achieved as part of the WRC. The 1-2-3-4 finish comes 30 years to the month since Toyota first recorded such a result in Kenya with the Celica ST185, something it repeated with the GR Yaris … [Read more...]