Toyota are taking it up another gear with their operations in their World Rally Championship programme.
The Japanese manufacturer have been racing in the WRC since its Group A era back in 1987. The team raced in the WRC era from 1997 to 1999.
From 2000 to 2016, Toyota did not compete as a manufacturer entry before returning in 2017 as Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT.
Since returning, the team have won four Manufacturers’ titles and have secured the last five drivers’ championships with Ott Tanak in 2019, Sebastien Ogier in 2020 and 2021 and Kalle Rovanpera in 2022 and 2023.
Toyota’s success in the WRC has led to new developments off the track, and speaking with DirtFish, team principal Jari-Matti Latvala revealed their ‘very exciting’ plans for the future.
Jari-Mati Latvala says Toyota could move into their new factory in 2026
Toyota had unveiled at last year’s Rally Finland their plans to move into a new all-purpose facility in the country.
The team were based out of four-time WRC champion Tommi Makinen’s factory in Puuppola before moving to Tallinn in Estonia, where their cars were re-prepared after each race.
Toyota moved to their current facility in Jyvaskyla – the city where Rally Finland is hosted – in 2021, but after the introduction of their GR Yaris Rally2 car, they have already outgrown the base.
The new factory, which is 10 miles north of the city, also proposes an asphalt test circuit, with Latvala saying that they could be moving in as early as 2026.
He said: “If everything goes well, we could be in by 2026, but otherwise it will be 2027. It’s a ground-up new building to house everything we need with the program right now. And the track is simply to check the cars after they’ve been built – it’s nothing to do with the high-speed testing. It’s a shakedown facility where the wheels turn for the first time.
“The new plans are very exciting. And they’re exciting for everybody in Jyväskylä and this part of central Finland.
“Toyota is committed to regional investment here – that means working with local business in the production of so much of the new facility. For example, we’re planning to use local developers and construction companies.”
READ MORE: What Sebastien Ogier needs to do to win his record ninth WRC championship
Toyota are chasing Hyundai for the 2024 WRC title
Toyota are currently second in the Manufacturers’ championship as they sit 20 points behind Hyundai with four rallies to go.
The Japanese team have doubled the amount of rally wins with six than Hyundai’s three. Ogier and Rovanpera have three wins each for Toyota, while Thierry Neuville, Tanak and Esapekka Lappi have one victory each for Hyundai.
Ogier and Rovanpera are both racing part time in 2024, while Toyota’s full time drivers have struggled for consistency with Elfyn Evans finishing second three times. Takamoto Katsuta have endured a difficult season with just two finishes inside the top five.
The WRC next heads to Acropolis Rally Greece on the 5-8 September.