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Toyota Yaris WRC with huge tail wing & other aero-kit! |
In the wake of the seat crisis for the champion drivers, ex-VW'ians - after their official exit, the entire driver line-up were left out to hunt for a drive next season. Sebastien Ogier was half successful to try out the next-gen WRC cars, and the remaining half reluctant. In the heat-up, the next two & quite important drivers were nowhere heard in the main-stream media.
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Jari-Matti, Miikka Antilla & TGR staff, during testing. |
Jari-Matti Latvala & Andreas Mikkelsen were already contenders to secure a seat in the 4-time WRC champion driver Tommi Makinen managed Toyota Gazoo Racing WRC Team.
But the latest talk mentions, that Volkswagen refugee driver Latvala has a drive booked at Toyota's new World Rally Championship team in 2017. Although he is reportedly agreed team's terms, there are a lot going-on on the negotiations table and he says,
"I cannot confirm that I have signed, and have been negotiating a lot with Tommi with my manager Timo Jouhki, but I cannot tell you I have signed."
Jari-Matti's almost secured deal with Toyota makes matters unpleasant for his ex-VW team-mate Andreas, who was also favoured to land up a seat Finnish-Japanese WRC team. Today, Latvala also completed the first tests with a newly upgraded aero for the Yaris WRC.
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Almost fully developed VW Polo WRC 2017 spec |
Also there is a strong speculation that a private funding from the Middle East and Qatari, Nasser Al-attiyah's name along with Redbull is heard to be the saviour of the project by raising sufficient funds in-time to save the Volkswagen's Polo R WRC 2017 programme. This could also provide a private seat for either Sebastien Ogier or Mikkelsen, or both!
Until the real news pops up, guesses and rumours are ruling the social media hubs!
Tags
2017
Andreas Mikkelsen
FIA
Finnish
Finns
Jari-Matti Latvala
motorsport
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Qatar Racing
Redbull
Sebastien Ogier
Tommi Makinen
Toyota Gazoo Racing
Toyota Yaris WRC
Volkswagen Motorsport
WRC