For the Third Consecutive Year GAZOO Racing Takes Home Rally Finland

GAZOO Racing (GR) World Rally Team (WRT) reached a new milestone recently with the Toyota Yaris WRC winning the quickest event on the FIA World Rally Championship calendar, Rally Finland, for the third year in a row. Ott Tnak, in the No. 8 Toyota Yaris WRC, rehashed his victory from one year ago to expand his championship lead, while Jari-Matti Latvala, driving the No. 10 Toyota Yaris WRC, completed third on his home event. With these accomplishments, the Finland-based GRWRT maintained its record of getting two cars onto the podium on the event every year since its debut in 2017.

Tnak moved into the lead on the third day following an intense battle with his rivals, and took a lead of 16.4 seconds into the fourth and final day. He right away expanded that to 20 seconds in the first of the final four stages, when he guaranteed his 200th WRC stage win. It is also his 120th in the Toyota Yaris WRC and 50th so far this season.

Guided by co-driver Martin Jrveoja, Tnak proceeded to set another quickest time in the rally-ending Power Stage as he clinched his victory, outpacing his closest rival by 0.7 seconds to take the maximum 30 points away from the rally. With this, his championship lead increased to 22 points.

Latvala and co-driver Miikka Anttila took their eighth stage win of the event on SS21 on their approach to sealing their first podium finish of the season. The double podium win helped the team to close up to the leader in the manufacturers' championship.

Akio Toyoda, Team Chairman, commented:"The city of Jyvskyl, the center of the rally, welcomed us with the words Welcome to My Home Roads, similarly as a year ago. In addition, they considered our car the Hometown Hero. I truly appreciate the local people and all the supporters across the globe who cheered us on. I would also like to send words of celebration and appreciation to Tnak and Jrveoja, who climbed onto the top of the podium, Latvala and Anttila, who remained on the third step, and all the team members. I strongly believe the hard and enjoyable drives from our drivers and co-drivers will make the Yaris an ever-better car! The team will keep fighting to secure the Manufacturers' Championship and to make our driver and co-driver become the World Rally Champions. To all the fans, I wish for your continuous support for GAZOO Racing WRT."

Ott Tnak, Driver of the No. 8 Toyota Yaris WRC, said:"It feels really amazing to get this victory. It was imperative to gain a decent outcome here to help us in both championships. I would say that this is a ideal result to start the second part of the season. I also think it is a incredible lift for the whole team and now we have to continue pushing, starting with Germany."

Throughout the years, Toyota has been taking part in many different forms of motorsports, including Formula One, the World Endurance Championship (WEC), and the Nrburgring 24 Hours endurance race. Toyotas participation in these events was overseen by separate entities within the company until April 2015, when Toyota established GAZOO Racing (GR), to consolidate all of its motorsports activities under one in-house brand. Representing Toyotas belief that the roads build the people, and the people build the cars, GR highlights the role of motorsports as a fundamental pillar of Toyotas commitment to making ever-better cars. Harnessing years of experience gained under the extreme conditions of various motorsports events, GR aims to forge new technologies and solutions that bring the freedom, adventure, and joy of driving to everyone.

The next rally, Rallye Deutschland, is adequately three rallies in one. Taking place on German asphalt, the event features twisting roads through Mosel vineyards, the notoriously tough Baumholder military area, and fast country lanes of Saarland. The varying characteristics of these roads and the often-changeable weather conditions can make car set-up and tire choice difficult.

Race Notes:

No. 8 Toyota Yaris WRC (Ott Tnak& Martin Jrveoja)
o Position: 1st
o Time: 2h30m40.3s
No. 10 Toyota Yaris WRC (Jari-Matti Latvala &MiikkaAnttila)
o Position: 3rd
o Time: 2h31m13.5s