Toyota GAZOO Racing's Goal Is To Open The 2021 WRC Season With A Win

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing has completed the preparations for the 2021 World Rally Championship. The team focused on victory at the opening race of the season, Monte Carlo Rally, which will take place on January 21-24.

Toyota's team fighting in the WRC will also be battling three Toyota Yaris WRC vehicles this year. Maintaining last year's successful team squad, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing will compete with seven-time World Champion and last champion Sébastien Ogier, last year's runner-up Elfyn Evans and rising star Kalle Rovanperä during the 2021 season.

Having won the legendary Monte Carlo Rally in winter conditions seven times, Ogier will once again aim at the top of the fight in his hometown of Gap in the French Alps.

The Monte Carlo Rally, the oldest race in the WRC calendar, will celebrate its 110th anniversary this season. Tire selection will once again be one of the most critical factors in Monte Carlo, which is one of the toughest rallies with its roads that can turn from dry asphalt to snow and ice in just one stage. The rally will begin on Thursday afternoon, January 21st, with stages north of the Gap. The last day of the rally will be completed with stages further west of the Principality.

Making evaluations before the rally, the new Team Captain Jari-Matti Latvala said, “The atmosphere in the team is great. Last year, all our pilots had competed with the Yaris WRC for the first time, and yet Ogier and Evans fought for the win. Now they know the car better and are in a more advantageous position. Monte Carlo, as we all know, is one of the most challenging rallies of the year and weather conditions can always bring surprises. But we think we are well prepared as a team, ”he said.

Last Drivers' Champion Sébastien Ogier said, “As everyone knows, the Monte-Carlo Rally is the one I want to win the most. However, it is very difficult to win here due to difficult conditions and you have to act wisely for this. "I prepared for this season by doing some rallies with the Yaris WRC and it gave me more confidence."