Toyota Gazoo Racing WRC has confirmed its 2022 WRC driver’s line-up. Esapekka Lappi rejoins the team and shares the new Toyota Rally1 with Sébastien Ogier.
Elfyn Evans and Kalle Rovanperä will contest every round of the 2022 WRC season. Sébastien Ogier steps back from full-time rallying next year and will be competing at selected events. Esapekka Lappi rejoins the team and will be sharing the car with Ogier. It’s yet to be confirmed which events Ogier and Lappi will contest.
Sébastien Ogier:
“I’m looking forward to having more time with my family after this year, but at the same time I’m very happy to remain with TOYOTA GAZOO Racing and having the chance to compete in some rallies next year.” Ogier said.
“I’m very thankful to the team for giving me this opportunity to keep doing on a partial basis what I love to do. The schedule of events is not clear yet, but I will do my best to help the team in the manufacturers’ championship and to develop the car. I’m excited to see what this new generation of cars bring to the sport and I know the team is putting a lot of effort into it.”
Elfyn Evans:
“I’m really pleased to continue driving with the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing team. I have very much enjoyed my time here so far over the past two years, and to win for the team on its home rally in Finland last weekend was an extra-special feeling for me. Now we are getting ready to enter a new phase with new regulations, and I’m excited to work with everyone in the team to do the best job we can in developing the Rally1 car and trying to achieve the best results possible next season.”
Kalle Rovanperä:
“I’m very happy to be staying with TOYOTA GAZOO Racing. My first two years with the team have been really good. I have been learning a lot, and the team has given me the chance to learn and to drive in my own way without big pressure. We have a really major change coming for next year with a totally new car, and it’s going to be a big challenge for the whole team. But it’s really positive to already be familiar with the team when we’re developing the car together and to be able to provide our own ideas as drivers. The team is putting a lot of work into it and I’m excited to help them in the best way possible.”
Esapekka Lappi:
“I am very, very happy to be returning to the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing team. It feels like I’m coming home. I have some great memories from the past and it was really nice to work with people from the team again at Rally Finland. As soon as I got back into the Yaris WRC, it felt again like this was my car. Of course, for next year we will have a new car and although I have not driven it yet, it seems like it will be very different with the new regulations. But it will be interesting to be a part of it and I’m very excited about the future.”
A series of driver announcements started yesterday morning after M-Sport welcomed Craig Breen on a two-year deal. After Breen’s announcement, Hyundai finalised it’s 2022 WRC line-up yesterday after announcing that Dani Sordo and Oliver Solberg will share the third Hyundai.
Photo: Toyota Gazoo Racing