Toyota returns to WRC?

Do you remember the Celica? Or the Supra? Or the MR2? All magnificent Toyota sports-cars, and all gone.

In 2005 Toyota changed their strategy and aimed for the even greater masses, and so all petty little niche cars had to go. All the cool stuff went either Lexus and got an astronomical price-tag or went extinct. I call this the beginning of the Avensis-era, a testament to every-day mundanity and a salute to the wrist-cuttingly dull necessity.

The enthusiasts were forgotten, which was a big mistake, obviously. Now they've finally woken up to the fact that there's something between the Lexus-tier and boring people. Every-day enthusiasts require a market too, and Toyota acted a bit dyslexic for a few years figuring that out, enough time to cock up their image.

So lately Toyota has made big efforts on regaining their lost sporting-mojo. One of those efforts is the Toyota/Subaru collaboration Scion FR-S/BRZ. Another one is this; Toyota plans a return to World Rally Championship in the not so distant future. After an absence of 13 years it would be a welcome surprise to see Toyota back on the muddy stages re-inventing themselves as a rally-brand.

Toyotas re-take on sporty: the GT86

According to the Toyota-representative, their 1.6 liter turbocharged engine is still in the testing-phase, but the car would most likely be ready by next year. He also hinted that the rally-car would be based on a Toyota Yaris, so all of you (me included) who expected something in the likes of Celica-rebirth nostalgia are sadly going to be disappointed. We'll just have to hope that the whole thing generates some sportier Toyotas and grows greater than the Yaris..

WRC Toyota Celica in 1998

If nothing else, at least they are able to brand their Yaris as a "sporty" car, detect the irony.

I get a bit nostalgic now and then about the rally-Corolla and Celica mental associations generated as a youngster playing Richard Burns Rally on the computer, and I hope this venture generates something equally legendary, because if it's just about the Yaris I'm going to pass.

-HS

Is the rally-Yaris a middle-finger to our faces? I sure feel so, how about you?