Documentary Chronicle: The Emergence of the GR Yaris Rally2 - "Roads Shape People and Vehicles"
The GR Yaris Rally2, Toyota's latest rally car creation, has embarked on an exciting journey in the All Japan Rally Championship, marking a significant step towards the much-anticipated Rally Japan 2024.
The development team's mission is clear: continuous improvement and refinement, guided by the philosophy that "roads build people and cars." This approach combines human skill and real-world testing, reflecting a philosophy that has been at the heart of Toyota Gazoo Racing for years.
The GR Yaris Rally2 is a testament to Toyota's commitment to creating a competitive yet reliable rally car. The car has been developed over a year-long period, with the team drawing on decades of motorsport craftsmanship and insights gained from their top-tier Rally1 project.
The development process took place in Jyvaskyla, Finland, a world-renowned rally hub, ensuring the car was tested and refined on demanding environments typical to WRC2 competitions. The car utilizes advanced materials and engineering techniques derived from Toyota’s motorsport experience, including insights gained from WRC and rally-raid programs.
However, the development process was not without its challenges. Balancing performance, durability, and cost to meet Rally2 regulations while providing a platform accessible to privateers and aspiring teams was a significant hurdle. Incorporating continuous technological updates and aerodynamic improvements was another challenge, with the team managing the transition of cutting-edge technologies from top-level Rally1 cars to the Rally2 platform without compromising reliability or drivability for a wider range of drivers.
Despite these challenges, Toyota has remained committed to making iterative upgrades, supported by motorsport-tested aero enhancements that can even carry over to customer cars. The involvement of experienced drivers and rising stars has been instrumental in helping the development team identify fine-tuning needs and reliability concerns under racing conditions.
The GR Yaris Rally2's development remains dynamic, supported by Toyota’s multi-disciplinary motorsport programs, including emerging technologies like hydrogen power. This commitment to innovation is evident in the ongoing improvements and technological transfers from Toyota’s broader racing programs.
The GR Yaris Rally2 was first unveiled at Rally Japan 2022 and officially approved by the FIA for sale as a rally car in January 2024. The car's development continues, with engineers and mechanics working tirelessly to find problems and repair them quickly.
Notably, the first GR Yaris Rally2 was acquired by Akio Toyoda, who is not only the chairman but also a passionate driver. His acquisition was not for personal use, but to uncover issues and feed the results back into other cars.
The GR Yaris Rally2 is more than just a rally car; it's a symbol of Toyota's goal of "making ever-better cars through motorsports." Viewers are likely to be moved by the passion the team has for the GR Yaris Rally2, as exclusive footage of drivers, engineers, and mechanics working on the car will be featured in this week's Toyota Times News.
Despite setbacks such as an exhaust leak revealed during a rally and incidents like Katsuta's unavoidable dropout, the GR Yaris Rally2 is intended to expand the scope of rallying for private drivers. Katsuta, the development driver for the GR Yaris Rally2, even learns driving techniques from his greatest rival.
In the words of Akio Toyoda, the GR Yaris Rally2 is a car that doesn't mock the driver for having limited skills. It's a world-class machine that marks a big first step for Toyota in the world of rallying.
- The team's continuous incorporation of advanced technologies and aerodynamic improvements into the GR Yaris Rally2, such as those derived from Toyota’s motorsport experience, mirrors the fusion of lifestyle and technology in the cars they develop.
- As Akio Toyoda, a passionate driver and the chairman of Toyota, acquires the first GR Yaris Rally2 not for personal use but to identify issues and improve the cars, it underlines the GR Yaris Rally2's role in promoting a sports-focused lifestyle for private drivers, echoing Toyota's goal of making ever-better cars through motorsports.
