Toyota may return to WRC? Options

[SupraKid]

http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2012/04...urn-to-wrc.html

cliffs: They've developed the rumored 1.6L turbo engine.

Seems to me like it would be a good way to have a smaller engine and ensure room for AWD components in the FRS, and sell it as a celica all trac slotted above the FRS.


ARTICLE:
"During its glory days, Toyota enjoyed 43 victories as well as seven FIA world rally titles. From 1973 through 1999, Toyota was a fixture in the sport.

Now, a report from the FIA World Rally Championship website revealed that Toyota has built a regulation 1.6-liter turbocharged powerplant, which meets the WRC Global Race Engine technical regulations, and is currently performing a series tests at Toyota Motorsport GmbH in Cologne. According to a spokesman from Toyota Motorsport, “We’re leaning towards an S2000-style of car which would be available for customers first. This is a development project, but it’s very early days – the engine only fired up for the first time a few weeks ago- at the very earliest, a car won’t be available until next year. Obviously, this being a Global Race Engine, it could go in any car, but the Yaris seems to make sense.”

According to the anonymous spokesman, participation in rallying is a part of the automaker’s medium-term future goals. What’s more, a Super 2000 category vehicle may also suggest new plans for World Touring Car Championship, as the S2000 specification is split to cover both rally and touring car racing regulations."

This post has been edited by SupraKid: Apr 10, 2012 - 10:39 PM