Toyota announced that Finnish driver Juho Hanninen and his co-driver Kaj Lindstrom will compete in the 2017 FIA World Rally Championship.
Toyota WRC has been working around the clock and racking up the miles in the Yaris WRC since the beginning of the year. Involved in the intense development program as the official test driver, Juho Hanninen has a good understanding of the team’s goal. He was the obvious choice to work with during the Japanese brand’s first season competing in WRC. He has signed a one-year contract, with an option to extend beyond 2017.
Juho won the Intercontinental Rally Challenge championship in 2010. He built on his success by claiming the FIA S-WRC title in 2011. Then became European Rally Champion the year after. He took part in the top category on various occasions in 2013 and 2014. Juho delivered impressive performances at events such as Rally Sweden, Rally Poland and Rally Finland. He will be completing a full programme with Toyota in 2017.
Juho Hanninen: “This really feels like a dream come true!”
“Joining a works team with such potential for a full season is a real opportunity for me. We have been working together since the car’s first outing. So that makes it all the more exciting and motivating. The Yaris WRC is incredible. I can’t wait to get started at the Rallye Monte-Carlo!”, noted the Finnish driver.
Tommi Makinen, Toyota WRC Team Principal, was pleased with the choice of Juho. He said that the 2017 season would be a learning experience for the entire team.
“When he joined the team, Juho was incredibly motivated and involved,” said Makinen. “He also understood very clearly that we didn’t want to cut any corners and that the 2017 season would be about coming to grips with the championship and learning. He has quite a lot of experience in WRC. I’m sure that because he has developed the Yaris WRC from the beginning, he knows the car best. Therefore, it seems to be the perfect combination to me. I know that everyone in the team will do their very best to ensure that all the energy and hard work spent on this project over the last few months bring us success.”
Koei Saga, chief officer and technical director of Toyota Racing Factory, and also the team’s Vice-Principal, made the following comment: “I am delighted that Juho will be part of the team for the 2017 season. Juho has been involved in the development of the Yaris WRC since the start of the project. We are looking forward to working together with him as we target a podium finish at the earliest possible opportunity and continue to strive to make ever-better cars.”
