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Toyota Gazoo Racing wins fourth consecutive Manufacturers’ Championship

In a thrilling battle at Rally Japan on Sunday, November 24, Toyota Gazoo Racing secured its fourth consecutive Manufacturers’ Championship title in the WRC.

Despite reducing the gap to championship leader Hyundai from 15 to 11 points based on the Rally Japan standings at the end of Saturday, the Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team (TGR-WRT) still faced a demanding challenge in defending its title. However, the Japanese squad was handed a major opportunity when the leader of the 13th and final round of the WRC season, Ott Tänak, went off the road and was forced to retire on Sunday morning.

Following this development, Elfyn Evans and Sébastien Ogier moved into first and second place respectively, and with the Super Sunday bonus points up for grabs, Toyota and Hyundai were tied ahead of the Power Stage. That is where the experience of multiple world champion Sébastien Ogier made the difference, as he set the fastest time in the Power Stage, earning the crucial five points.

At the same time, Elfyn Evans and Takamoto Katsuta recorded the third and fourth fastest times. As a result, Toyota claimed the Manufacturers’ Championship title by a margin of three points after 13 rounds. This marks the eighth Manufacturers’ title for the Japanese team in the WRC.

Elfyn Evans and his co-driver Scott Martin once again proved their dominance on the demanding Japanese roads, celebrating their first victory of the season at Rally Japan, one year after their triumph at the same event. With this result, they concluded the season by finishing second in both the Drivers’ and Co-drivers’ Championships.

Sébastien Ogier and his co-driver Vincent Landais, after ten starts during the season, delivered seven podium finishes for the Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team (TGR-WRT). Meanwhile, the team’s part-time driver Kalle Rovanperä, alongside co-driver Jonne Halttunen, contributed with four victories. Takamoto Katsuta and Aaron Johnston also ended the season strongly, securing a top-four finish for the second consecutive rally.

In addition, the debut season of the GR Yaris Rally2 concluded in perfect fashion, as Sami Pajari and Enni Mälkönen clinched the WRC2 title at the final round of the year.

Reflecting on Toyota’s achievements this season, TGR-WRT Team Chairman Akio Toyoda said:

“We hate to lose. With this slogan in mind, we kept fighting until the very end without giving up. Today, I want to sincerely celebrate together with all members of TGR-WRT: Jari-Matti, Kaj, Tom, Elfyn, Scott, Seb, Vincent, Taka, Aaron, Kalle, Jonne, and everyone in the team. Thank you so much. Congratulations also to Sami and Enni!

I would also like to congratulate Thierry and Martijn, as well as everyone at Hyundai, for winning the Drivers’ and Co-drivers’ Championships. The 2024 WRC season was truly exciting, as we were able to fight against each other right up to the final round, the final day, and the final stage.

As Asian car manufacturers, I believe it is important for us to show rally fans the sound and the spirit of rally cars on the roads of East Asia. Let’s continue to strengthen motorsport in Asia together, and let’s have another great battle next year!”

Rally Japan Results

  1. Elfyn Evans / Scott Martin (Toyota GR Yaris Hybrid) – 3h 23m 41.0s

  2. Sébastien Ogier / Vincent Landais (Toyota GR Yaris Hybrid) – +1m 27.3s

  3. Adrien Fourmaux / Alexandre Coria (Ford Puma Hybrid) – +1m 55.5s

  4. Takamoto Katsuta / Aaron Johnston (Toyota GR Yaris Hybrid) – +2m 02.6s

  5. Grégoire Munster / Louis Louka (Ford Puma Hybrid) – +3m 11.5s

  6. Thierry Neuville / Martijn Wydaeghe (Hyundai i20 N Hybrid) – +6m 54.1s

  7. Nikolay Gryazin / Konstantin Aleksandrov (Citroën C3 Rally2) – +10m 04.3s

  8. Sami Pajari / Enni Mälkönen (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) – +11m 50.8s

  9. Hiroki Arai / Shunsuke Matsuo (Škoda Fabia R5) – +13m 24.3s

  10. Gus Greensmith / Jonas Andersson (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) – +14m 15.8s

     

Drivers’ Championship Standings

  1. Thierry Neuville – 242 pts

  2. Elfyn Evans – 210

  3. Ott Tänak – 200

  4. Sébastien Ogier – 191

  5. Adrien Fourmaux – 162

  6. Takamoto Katsuta – 116

  7. Kalle Rovanperä – 114

  8. Grégoire Munster – 46

  9. Dani Sordo – 44

  10. Sami Pajari – 44

     

Manufacturers’ Championship Standings

  1. TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team – 561 pts

  2. Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team – 558

  3. M-Sport Ford World Rally Team – 295

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