TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Strengthens WRC Lead with Podium Finish at Rally Italia Sardegna

09 Jun 2023

The TOYOTA GAZOO Racing (TGR) World Rally Team (WRT) has recently secured a podium finish at the 2023 FIA World Rally Championship’s (WRC) Rally Italia Sardegna. Kalle Rovanperä and co-driver Jonne Halttunen’s performance in the No. 69 GR YARIS Rally1 Hybrid Electric Vehicle across the rally’s narrow gravel tracks and turbulent weather conditions allowed them to claim a hard-fought, third-place win. This, along with their outstanding driving in the rally-ending Power Stage, has increased the team’s WRC lead to 25 points.

Faced with sweeping loose gravel roads at the beginning of the rally, Rovanperä’s characteristically strong performance in the rain won him the 50-kilometre Monte Lerno stage. He would then go on to attain and maintain a strong third-place position throughout more wet weather conditions and a limited number of softer compound tyres made available on what is normally a hot and abrasive rally. Finally, in the rain-soaked, rally-ending Power Stage, Rovanperä unleashed his signature aggressive driving style and recorded the best time by 4.7s. The maximum five bonus points he received helped further solidify his third-place position and a strong FIA WRC lead.

Akio Toyoda, TGR-WRT Chairman, commented: “I would like to send my appreciation for the hard work of all TGR-WRT members. Special thanks go to Kalle and Jari-Matti who traveled back and forth between Europe and Japan in a short period of time. I’m thankful to them for achieving the podium again despite such a busy schedule. Safari Rally Kenya is in three weeks. Like Sardinia, it will be another challenging rally. However, I'm sure that our team and crew will amaze the people in Africa again this year.”

Over the years, Toyota has been participating in many different forms of motorsports, including Formula One, the World Endurance Championship (WEC), and the Nürburgring 24 ‎Hours endurance race. Toyota’s participation in these events was overseen by separate entities within the company until April 2015, when Toyota established TGR, ‎to consolidate all of its motorsports activities under one in-house brand. Representing ‎Toyota’s belief that ‘the roads build the people, and the people build the cars,’ TGR highlights the role of motorsports as a fundamental pillar of Toyota’s commitment to ‎making ‘ever-better’ cars. Harnessing years of experience gained under the extreme conditions of various motorsports events, TGR aims to forge new technologies and solutions that bring the freedom, adventure, and joy of driving to everyone.

The seventh round of the 2023 FIA WRC is the legendary Safari Rally Kenya, which will take place from 22-25 June.

Race Notes:

• No. 69 GR YARIS Rally1 Hybrid Electric Vehicle (Kalle Rovanperä and Jonne Halttunen)
  • Position: 3rd
  • Time: 3h41m11.56.7s