[JohnJuan]

Originally Posted by Poodles

Ahem...

I need more details on this car. It doesn't show up on the Neste Oil Rally Finland(youtube description) entry list for 2014.

PDF: http://www.nesteoilrallyfinland.fi/a...0-59-45253.pdf

Edit: nevermind. here's the page: http://www.nesteoilrallyfinland.fi/e...ses/40861.aspx


text:

Tommi Mäkinen, the four-time world champion who was unbeaten on Neste Oil Rally Finland between 1994-1998, turned high-speed chauffeur earlier today when he drove a very important guest through a section of the Kakaristo stage.

Mäkinen was at the wheel of a four-wheel-drive Toyota GT86, which his Tommi Mäkinen Racing operation has built at the behest of Akio Toyoda, the Toyota Motor Corporation President and CEO.

Toyoda accompanied Mäkinen for the run, which began at 11:07 local time and included the famous Kakaristo junction. They started the stage behind the 00 course car but intentionally stopped shortly after a purpose-built jump located at 11.4 kilometres where a delegation from TMC was gathered in a hospitality area.

"It was 11 years ago I drove here last and I had such nice memories," Mäkinen told WRC.com. "I enjoyed it. There was good grip and I´m sure Mr Toyoda enjoyed it a lot too."

Toyota has a strong record on Finland´s WRC counter, scoring outright wins in 1975 (Hannu Mikkola), 1990 (Carlos Sainz) and 1993 (Juha Kankkunen). However, Toyoda-san wouldn´t comment on a possibility of a competitive return to the Finnish stages in the future when he spoke to WRC Live.

"I came here to learn about the WRC but what I found out was Toyota´s DNA of rallying is really a lot," he said. "As a top guy of the company I want to continue that kind of legend but Toyota is a company so I have to show everybody that Toyota needs rally to make car fans and make better cars. We don´t know yet but please look at our activities in the future."

Toyoda-san has been in Finland for much of the week on a fact-finding mission and took the opportunity to drive the TMR-prepared Toyota GT86 on a gravel stage on Thursday under Mäkinen´s supervision.Julkaistu: 1.8.2014 17:01