TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Achieves One-Two Podium Victory at Rally Poland
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing (TGR) World Rally Team (WRT) has celebrated a stunning one-two finish at the 2024 FIA World Rally Championship’s (WRC) Rally Poland. Reigning world champions Kalle Rovanperä and co-driver Jonne Halttunen clinched victory in the No. 69 GR Yaris Rally1 Hybrid Electric Vehicle, despite minimal pre-event preparations. Teammates Elfyn Evans and Scott Martin secured a commendable second place in their No. 33 GR Yaris Rally1 Hybrid Electric Vehicle.
Akio Toyoda, TGR-WRT Chairman, praised the team’s performance, stating, “This was the first event in Poland since 2017 when Toyota came back to WRC. I sincerely appreciate Kalle and Jonne for accepting the team's sudden request and driving with the strong intention of supporting the team. They surprised us by achieving such a great result, doing the maximum preparation possible in a very short amount of time.”
Toyoda added, “I am really thankful to Elfyn and Scott for securing the valuable second place! Thanks to them, TGR was able to achieve a one-two finish. I believe that achieving a one-two finish in this rally, which marks the halfway point of the season, is very meaningful towards the manufacturers' title. They have been strong in our home rallies, so I am expecting their strong performance in the second half of the season, which includes our home rallies in Finland and Japan! The team will continue to fight together in the second half of the season.”
Rovanperä and Halttunen’s victory also marked their debut at Rally Poland. They stepped in for teammates Sébastien Ogier and Vincent Landais, who withdrew due to a road collision. Despite the challenging first day, Rovanperä displayed his renowned speed on gravel roads, ultimately finishing 28.3 seconds ahead of the competition, securing his 13th WRC victory.
Evans and Martin were strong contenders throughout the rally, staying just 0.4 seconds behind their teammates midway through Day Two. Despite technical issues, they reclaimed second place on Day Three, finishing strong and ensuring a one-two victory for TGR.
Toyota has a rich history in various motorsports, including Formula One, the World Endurance Championship (WEC), and the Nürburgring 24 Hours endurance race. Since consolidating its motorsports activities under the TGR brand in April 2015, Toyota has focused on leveraging its racing experience to develop better cars and innovative technologies, embodying the belief that “the roads build the people, and the people build the cars.”
The eighth round of the 2024 FIA WRC is Rally Latvia, scheduled for July 18-21. This new event for the WRC features high-speed gravel roads, with the service park located in Liepāja and the rally beginning in the capital city, Riga.
