TOYOTA GAZOO RACING CELEBRATES WORLD TITLE WITH ONE-TWO FINISH*
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team, for whom ENDLESS is a brake parts supply partner, has won a fifth consecutive FIA World Rally Championship manufacturers’ title* at the Central European Rally, where Kalle Rovanperä claimed a valuable victory in the battle for the drivers’ crown.
Elfyn Evans completed a one-two finish by taking second overall on the final stage as he reclaimed the lead of the drivers’ championship – and the Welshman crossing the finish line was enough for the manufacturers’ crown to be secured with two rounds still remaining.
It is the ninth WRC manufacturers’ title won in total by Toyota – just one fewer than the record set by Lancia.
Rovanperä’s victory together with co-driver Jonne Halttunen is the 11th victory from 12 rounds so far this season for the GR YARIS Rally1 car.
Evans and co-driver Scott Martin – starting his 200th WRC event – began the final day 8.4 seconds away from Tänak but closed to within 1.1s before the final stage. Also finishing second in the Power Stage and Super Sunday classifications, they now lead the drivers’ standings by 13 points ahead of his team-mates Rovanperä and Ogier.
Ogier was able to restart on Sunday and was quickest in every stage as he claimed the full 10 points available across Super Sunday and the Power Stage.
Takamoto Katsuta finished fourth overall and in Super Sunday and the Power Stage, showing strong pace ahead of his upcoming home rally in Japan with two stage wins on Saturday alongside co-driver Aaron Johnston. Sami Pajari and Marko Salminen also set some strong stage times as they finished sixth overall.
The penultimate round of the season takes place on home ground for TGR at Rally Japan on November 6-9. The event takes place on twisting asphalt roads in the mountains of the Aichi and Gifu prefectures, around the service park in Toyota City near Nagoya.
Please read the details on the team’s official web site:
*subject to the official publication of the results by the FIA