The event is the final round of the World Rally Championship with the Toyota, built and prepared at the Toyota Motorsport workshops in Sandton and driven by British crew Alister McRae and Gordon Noble, finished day two of the event in 31st place overall. After lying 19th overall at the halfway mark, the Toyota ran into suspension problems.
“Alister and Gordon made up a couple of places early in the day, and then a bolt on the suspension worked loose and it cost them a lot of time,” said Toyota Motorsport manager Wammy Haddad. “It was disappointing but there is also an upside.
“While sorting out the suspension technical crew also changed the exhaust system and that has made a big improvement where performance is concerned. The crew will be going all out today to try and make up as many places as they can.
”We will be very happy just to see the car finish, but if they can move though the field today it will be a big bonus.”
The Toyota, entered in the event by the RED World Rally Team, made history on Friday when it became the first S2000 car to compete in the world championship. The RunX S2000 is the only car in the field of 118 which complies to the new FIA S2000 rally regulations, and is also the only Toyota in the field.
In Group N4 the Toyota faces stiff competition and comes up against a horde of turbocharged fourwheel drive Subaru Impreza WRC and Mitsubishi Lancer Evo entries.
