Sebastien Ogier, Elfyn Evans and Kalle Rovanpera unveiled their 2020 World Rally Championship (WRC) Toyota Gazoo Racing Yaris WRC in front of their Japanese fans and media this morning at the Tokyo Auto Salon.
This is the first time that this WRC team has started its year in Japan before tackling the first round of the WRC on 23 January with Rallye Monte-Carlo.
With an all new driver/co-driver line-up for their fourth season in WRC, Toyota Gazoo Racing aims to bring the team more success this season.
Ogier/Julien Ingrassia, Evans/Scott Martin and Rovanpera/Jonne Halttunen provide a strong team for this season, and the Toyota Yaris WRC brings with it new developments, a weight reduction and an uprated engine.
In 2018, this team won the coveted FIA WRC Manufacturer’s title and Ott Tanak brought further success last year by claiming the Drivers’ championship.
Team Principal Tommi Makinen spoke at the launch: “It is great to be in Japan to launch our season with our new drivers. We are really looking forward to the WRC returning to Japan this year, so it is nice to start the season here together with lots of Japanese car fans.
“On the outside, our car looks similar to before, and we are mostly keeping the same package that was strong in many different conditions last year.
“But we are always working to make some small improvements to make it even better, and we will go into this season with a lighter and more powerful car. I am confident that our talented new drivers will quickly feel comfortable and that we can aim high again this season.”
