L'AN PROCHAIN, TOYOTA CONSERVERA SA BASE WRC EN FINLANDE AVANT DE PROBABLEMENT DÉMÉNAGER QUAND LE CONSTRUCTEUR DÉBUTERA LA COMPÉTITION EN 2017.
Tommi Mäkinen, Directeur de l'équipe Toyota GAZOO Racing, a exprimé toute sa fierté de conserver les ateliers situés dans ses quartiers de Puuppola, près de Jyväskylä, base du Rallye de Finlande.
"Nous nous réjouissons de mener ce programme dans un pays où le rallye est considéré comme un sport national et une véritable fierté. La Finlande représente aussi l'endroit idéal pour développer notre voiture avec beaucoup d'options différentes pour réaliser des essais."
"Néanmoins, nous regardons plusieurs options pour établir notre équipe d'usine dans des locaux adaptés pour 2017", détaillait Mäkinen, qui indiquait en parallèle que l'équipe serait engagée sous licence japonaise pour son retour après 17 ans d'absence en WRC avec une Yaris World Rally Car.établir notre équipe d'usine dans des locaux adaptés
Il dispose d'une équipe de 40 personnes, mais reconnaît que de nombreux postes doivent encore être pourvus afin de construire une véritable écurie en peu de temps.
"Nous cherchons des personnes prêtes à se donner pour ce projet et rejoindre une équipe qui fonctionne comme une vraie famille. Nous travaillons tous ensemble, main dans la main. Nous cherchons de forts caractères aux qualités indéniables, tout en pouvant se fondre dans l'équipe."
"Je sais que ce projet peut sembler difficile à concrétiser étant donné le peu de temps dont nous disposons. Nous avons toutefois travaillé dur pour bâtir une équipe structurée, professionnelle et réactive."
"L'efficacité des personnes impliquées dans ce projet nous a permis d'être dans les temps et d'atteindre nos objectifs. Il reste évidemment beaucoup de travail à faire, mais nous sommes prêts à tout affronter."
Le mois dernier, Mäkinen a rencontré le Président de l'équipe Akio Toyoda et les dirigeants de Toyota au Japon pour réitérer son engagement envers l'opération "étroite et efficace" souhaitée par le constructeur.
"Je veux atteindre la même volonté commune de gravir les sommets qu'avait notre petite équipe avec Mitsubishi. Vous n'avez pas besoin de plus gros budget ou de la plus grosse équipe pour vous imposer. Se détendre et apprécier l'aventure est le plus important afin de le partager avec vos semblables."
Ci-dessus, de gauche à droite : Toshio Sato, Président de Toyota Motorsport GmbH, Tommi Mäkinen, Directeur d'équipe, Akio Toyoda, Président de l'équipe et Koel Saga, Vice-Président de l'équipe.
TOYOTA'S WRC BASE WILL REMAIN IN FINLAND NEXT YEAR BEFORE A LIKELY SWITCH TO A NEW LOCATION WHEN IT BEGINS ITS CHAMPIONSHIP PROGRAMME IN 2017.
Toyota GAZOO Racing team principal Tommi Mäkinen spoke of his pride at retaining the workshops and design offices in 2016 at his premises in Puuppola, close to Jyväskylä which hosts Neste Oil Rally Finland.
"We're delighted to be running this project in a country where rallying is considered a national sport and a genuine source of pride. It's also an ideal place to develop our car, with many options for testing.
"However, we're looking at different options to accommodate a works team and its required facilities for 2017," explained Mäkinen, who said the squad would register under the Japanese flag when it re-enters WRC with a Yaris World Rally Car after a 17-year absence.
He has more than 40 staff and acknowledged several positions have yet to be filled as he races to build a team from scratch in a relatively short timeframe.
"We're looking for people who are ready to work hard on this project and join a team that works like a big family. We'll all work together, hand in hand. We're looking for people with strong characters and individual strengths, who at the same time are able to fit into the team.
"I understand this project may have seemed difficult to pull off given the relatively short amount of time we have to set it up. However, we've worked hard to build a structured, professional and responsive team.
"The efficiency of the people involved in the project has made it possible to stick to the initial schedule and meet our objectives. Obviously, there's a lot of work still to do but we're more than ready for that."
Mäkinen, who visited Japan last month to meet team chairman Akio Toyoda and other senior Toyota representatives, stressed his desire to match the manufacturer's 'lean and efficient operation'.
"I want to have the same conquest feeling as we had with our small Mitsubishi team. You don't need to have the biggest budget or team in order to win. The most important thing is relaxing and enjoying the experience, and sharing it with people who feel the same way."
"We're delighted to be running this project in a country where rallying is considered a national sport and a genuine source of pride. It's also an ideal place to develop our car, with many options for testing.
"However, we're looking at different options to accommodate a works team and its required facilities for 2017," explained Mäkinen, who said the squad would register under the Japanese flag when it re-enters WRC with a Yaris World Rally Car after a 17-year absence.
He has more than 40 staff and acknowledged several positions have yet to be filled as he races to build a team from scratch in a relatively short timeframe.
"We're looking for people who are ready to work hard on this project and join a team that works like a big family. We'll all work together, hand in hand. We're looking for people with strong characters and individual strengths, who at the same time are able to fit into the team.
"I understand this project may have seemed difficult to pull off given the relatively short amount of time we have to set it up. However, we've worked hard to build a structured, professional and responsive team.
"The efficiency of the people involved in the project has made it possible to stick to the initial schedule and meet our objectives. Obviously, there's a lot of work still to do but we're more than ready for that."
Mäkinen, who visited Japan last month to meet team chairman Akio Toyoda and other senior Toyota representatives, stressed his desire to match the manufacturer's 'lean and efficient operation'.
"I want to have the same conquest feeling as we had with our small Mitsubishi team. You don't need to have the biggest budget or team in order to win. The most important thing is relaxing and enjoying the experience, and sharing it with people who feel the same way."
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