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15 Jun 2010, 05:59 (Ref:2712372) | #151 | |||
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15 Jun 2010, 12:23 (Ref:2712534) | #152 | |||
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Get Rally to open their regs, or do some exhibition class. Rally Raid. The F1 project really didn't produce and had to try to patience of the accountants and the board, so they have learned a harsh lesson there too. |
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15 Jun 2010, 12:34 (Ref:2712542) | #153 | |
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The Nurburgring 24 hours is predominantly important for the German market. They already won the Tokachi 24 hours with a hybrid Supra, but that victory did not get much exposure. If you want to showcase your technology in endurance racing, Le Mans is the best choice.
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15 Jun 2010, 13:40 (Ref:2712585) | #154 | ||
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Sportscar racing and rallying seem to be two disciplines were cars can be cool and improve a maunfactuers image even if they aren't successful. |
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15 Jun 2010, 14:12 (Ref:2712598) | #155 | |||
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Hvil i Fred Allan. (Rest in Peace Allan) |
15 Jun 2010, 17:20 (Ref:2712680) | #156 | ||
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http://www.toyota-motorsport.com |
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15 Jun 2010, 23:46 (Ref:2712897) | #157 | |||
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LeMans does cost a boat load of money. It is also a huge public place to fail, which Toyota can not afford right now. I don't think the money to do LeMans right now is really a problem, it is the possibility of failure. Now, if they the only factory team in some new class that has a speed advantage like the diesels have enjoyed, then maybe they would feel comfortable--but would anyone on this forum be that happy if Toyota came in as some sort of overdog in a class of their own? You could do print and television buy and photos, video and verbiage on a N24 special class victory 'beats expensive sports sedans and sport cars that fell by the wayside on the Green Hell, and only used 25 gallons of fuel,' with a team of tarted up racerized Prius, keep some engineers involved on the cutting edge of your product line, prove concepts. Does it compare to overall at LeMans in a prototype? No, of course not. But even doing that would require a lot of media buy to promote in US. Toyota is trying to recover their name now, and that means being very methodical at each step to rebuild a foundation and grow from there. I do not think they can consider LeMans for several years at this point. But, I may be completly wrong. |
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7 Jul 2010, 18:52 (Ref:2723165) | #158 | ||
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There is a poll in rally and rallycross asking what area of motorsport Toyota should compete in:
http://tentenths.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123353 |
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Brum brum |
8 Jul 2010, 10:44 (Ref:2723437) | #159 | ||
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Interesting link in that thread to job ad posted in Autosport. "The successful applicants will have sound experience in top-level motorsport (such as Formula 1, Le Mans or IndyCar).........". The advertised vacancies are a CFD Engineer, Wind Tunnel Design Engineer and Wind Tunnel Test Engineer. Doesn't suggest a GT or Rally based programme to me, but also suggests they're not very far down the line with whatever they have in mind. |
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8 Jul 2010, 21:09 (Ref:2723724) | #160 | |||
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But unfortunately it sounds like Dome will not be utilized in the new project. |
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9 Jul 2010, 06:44 (Ref:2723861) | #161 | ||
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Maybe i am reading too much into this but Toyota Motorsport are advertising for CFD and Wind Tunnel engineers.
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9 Jul 2010, 06:48 (Ref:2723862) | #162 | ||
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Could well be for a LMP project, could also be something for a new car that fits the new combined DTM/SuperGT regulations and might be built and designed in Europe with the DTM primarily in mind. Who knows?
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9 Jul 2010, 14:13 (Ref:2724050) | #163 | |
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LMP IMO. DTM is for German manufacturers, TV, crowds, races are all German and it costs a LMP budget.
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9 Aug 2010, 11:51 (Ref:2741845) | #164 | ||
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Toyota and Le Mans
According to the magazine PHOTOBYTE, Toyota will go to WRC instead of Le Mans.
They will announced inn next week. http://autosport.aeiou.pt/gen.pl?p=s....stories/88711 |
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9 Aug 2010, 13:42 (Ref:2741901) | #165 | |
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Judging from the picture they will use the Auris hatchback.
Last edited by Aysedasi; 9 Aug 2010 at 13:52. |
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9 Aug 2010, 19:44 (Ref:2742107) | #166 | ||
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Well that killed any hope of Toyota being in the WTCC.
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9 Aug 2010, 21:42 (Ref:2742163) | #167 | |||
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DK |
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9 Aug 2010, 21:50 (Ref:2742166) | #168 | |
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The WRC is right up there with Le Mans, Indy 500, F1 and NASCAR at the very top of the motorsport pile.
It's had a couple of very poor years but at it's best is immense. Last time around Toyota ran WRC and Le Mans programs so I wouldn't be suprised if this is an option once the WRC is up and running. |
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9 Aug 2010, 21:53 (Ref:2742168) | #169 | ||
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WRC is a bit strange - it's not that all that many people are actually following it on TV, but it gets huge crowds at the events (200k +) and then it also has a certain can't-escape-it-factor, i.e. it gets coverage in a lot of different media and you stumble across it all the time.
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9 Aug 2010, 23:21 (Ref:2742207) | #170 | |
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There seems to be a renewed interest in WRC from car manufacturers: Citroen, Ford, Mini and now Toyota. VW is also said to be interested in building a car according to new rules (1600 turbo).
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10 Aug 2010, 00:36 (Ref:2742224) | #171 | ||
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I think the new rules have been designed partly to encourage new manufacturers and it appears to be working-Mini and Toyota seem to have joined the fray. VW-what about Seat or Skoda?
I'd rather see Toyota in sportscars though |
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10 Aug 2010, 00:47 (Ref:2742225) | #172 | |
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WRC done well can be of huge benefit to a manufacturer - see Subaru or the benefit that the Peugeot 206 gained from WRC. The WRC has gone through troughs before and come out the other side and if they get rid of the mismanagement and stop emasculating the sport it might return to the glory days. So this doesn't surprise me and as rally comes in as a second motorsport love after sportscar, this possibility does excite me.
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10 Aug 2010, 13:06 (Ref:2742444) | #173 | ||
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What you also must remember is that there can be made money from the S1600 rules.
Toyota can build a S1600 car, run it in WRC under a factory banner, and at the same time sell a bunch of them to the national championships and the IRC!. Kinda what Porsche did/does in GT2. I think/hope that when a S1600 program is up and running, they will start to look at other racing forms (WTCC very likely as they also switches to S1600 soon) |
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10 Aug 2010, 13:37 (Ref:2742457) | #174 | |
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This news source magazine is a magazine named "Best car" of Japan.
Certainly, there was an article that Toyota participated in WRC. Additionally, there was an article that Toyota would participate in LMS or DTM by the Lexus brand. |
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10 Aug 2010, 13:43 (Ref:2742460) | #175 | |
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@CTD: you are misusing the term S1600, which refers to FWD cars with a NA 1.6 4 cilinder engine (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_1600) used in e.g. JWRC.
I doubt that the manufacturers can recover the huge investment needed to build a championship winning rally car by selling the car to customers. |
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