The GR Yaris Rally2 is going through its homologation inspection this week, with the aim of having the car sanctioned by the FIA on January 1, ahead of a possible Rallye Monte-Carlo debut.
French driver Stéphane Lefebvre and Finland’s Sami Pajari are the drivers testing yesterday and today. The same Yaris will be used as a zero car on this weekend’s Rallye du Dévoluy.
Toyota's technical director, Tom Fowler, said: “We’re running the car in the Alps in December with an eye on Monte Carlo, but it’s not really a pre-event or a set-up test. It’s just another part of the process for us – what we’re doing here is mirroring the week for a WRC2 competitor or a Rally2 crew in the European Rally Championship or wherever.
“We have some testing time at the start of the week, then the rally at the end. Like I said, it’s something of a simulation.
“We’re really happy with the way testing has gone. Everything is coming together at the right time and we’re excited to see the car out there.”
Image: José Arellano
Finland
Italy
Hungary