YORK TOWNSHIP, Mich. – Hot on the heels of President Akio Toyoda’s announcement that the automaker will be returning to the World Rally Championship (WRC), the Toyota Technical Center Rally Team (TTCRT) is racing headlong into the 2015 season, doubling their Rally-America appearances and adding depth to their stable of drivers, crew and support team.
The Rally-America national and regional championship series, the premiere stage rally series in the U.S., highlights the 2015 TTCRT season. The team’s first stop in the 2015 series will be February 27th at the Rally in the 100-Acre Wood in Salem, Mo. The race series pits the Toyota engineering team against professional and semi-professional drivers from around the globe on courses that wind through the woods and wilds of Maine, Oregon and many points in between.
“Stage rally is exciting- there’s no doubt about it, but it’s also challenging. The competition is tough, the courses take their toll on the car and it’s up to the crew to keep us competitive” said driver Kyle Steinkamp. “Rally-America has provided a great series and we’re thrilled to be able to not only compete again this season, but to double our entries”.
The Toyota Technical Center Rally Team is comprised entirely of full-time Toyota Engineers and team members based at the automaker’s North American R&D headquarters in Southeast Michigan.
“The rally team is a great example of how Toyota encourages its engineers to collaborate and develop strong relationships across several departments” commented Jeff Makarewicz, TTC Vice President. “It also provides outreach opportunities to prospective engineers and gives our people the unique opportunity to have a lot of fun while they’re at it.”