The RunX completed more than 240 km of testing in the two days, most of it in pouring rain. The forester had to grade the road during the night so that McRae could complete his test programme.
“The test has been great and I feel very happy with the set up we have decided on,” commented McRae. “All credit to the team from Toyota South Africa for designing and building a very good car. I am really looking forward to the rally, which is likely to be run in cold and wet conditions.”
The Toyota RunX is the only car complying with the new S2000 rally regulations in the field of 118 cars. It will compete in Class N4, where it will face very strong opposition from more than 50 cars, made up mainly of Mitsubishi Lancer Evos and Subaru Imprezas.
McRae’s car, which will carry the No. 62 on the side window, was built at Toyota South Africa’s motor sport workshop in Sandton, will be co-driven by experienced Gordon Noble. The South African car is, in fact, the only Toyota in the field and is attracting a great deal of interest as the first S2000 rally car to compete in Britain.
The entry for the Wales Rally GB is the largest for the past five years. The rally will be decided over 15 timed special stages that total 356 km.
“We are very proud of our achievement in being able to field a South African-built rally car in one of the world’s major rallies,” added Brian Eades, General Manager – Marketing Communications at Toyota SA, who is in Wales to watch the S2000 Toyota RunX in action.
