Fri 06 Dec 2024

Akio Toyoda hails Hyundai rivalry after 2024 WRC fight

Toyota GAZOO Racing chairman Akio Toyoda has praised the cooperation and competition with Hyundai through the 2024 WRC season – and admitted he’s looking forward to repeating that battle next year.

The championships were halved through this year, with Thierry Neuville scoring a drivers’ title success for Hyundai, while Toyota snatched a last-gasp manufacturers’ series win on the Wolf Power Stage of the final round, last month’s FORUM8 Rally Japan.

Toyoda was magnanimous in defeat in the drivers’ race, saying: “Thierry, Martijn (Wydaeghe) and everyone at Hyundai, congratulations on winning the drivers’ and co-drivers’ championship titles.

“WRC 2024 became really exciting as we were able to fight against each other until the final round, the final day and the final stage. I believe it is significant for us as Asian car manufacturers to show fans the sound and smell of the rally cars on the roads of East Asia. “Let's continue to boost motorsports in Asia together, and let's have a good fight again next year!”

Toyoda also paid tribute to the Toyota team which maintained its winning record as number one constructor.

Toyoda added: “We hate to lose. With this slogan, we kept fighting until the very end without giving up. I would like to celebrate sincerely with all the TGR-WRT members today.”

Sweden
Starts: Thursday, February 13, 2025 at 8:00:00 AM
Spain
Starts: Thursday, April 3, 2025 at 7:00:00 AM
Turkey
Starts: Sunday, November 10, 2024 at 8:30:00 AM