After winning P1 Overall in the 2022 Sprint Rally national championship (Kejurnas) in Malang, East Java, 2 weeks ago, the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Indonesia (TGRI) team again reaped success by winning the first place in the 2022 Lake Toba Rally National Championship which took place in the Plantation Forest area. Industry (HTI) Toba Pulp Lestari (TPL) Sector Aek Nauli, Parapat, Simalungun, North Sumatra (5 – 7 August 2022).
These positive results made the TGRI rally pair Ryan Nirwan and navigator Adi Indiarto supported by the GR Yaris hot hatch in accordance with AP4 regulations (Asia-Pacific 4WD), leading the 2022 Indonesian Rally National Championship.
“Congratulations to the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Indonesia team. The opportunity to present the GR Yaris as a Pure GR which carries Toyota's motorsport DNA from the WRC world rally racing event, gives us the opportunity to achieve positive results from the rally track in North Sumatra which is famous for being hard and difficult to conquer," said Marketing Director of PT Toyota-Astra Motor ( TAM), Anton Jimmi Suwandy.
“With an unyielding spirit, TGRI drivers and engineers worked hand in hand to conquer a very challenging 333.86 kilometer track while bringing home the first championship title. We will continue to maintain this positive result in the next series," he continued.
The rally track in the HTI TPL area of the Aek Nauli Sector, Simalungun has been the location for international motorsport events, namely as a special stage track (SS) for the World Rally Championship (WRC) in 1996 and 1997, as well as a national rally in 2007, 2019 and 2021.
In the 2022 Lake Toba Rally National Championship, all participants covered a total distance of 333.86 km which was divided into 7 SS which spanned the Aek Nauli, Gorbus, and Huta Tonga areas.
GR Yaris AP4 Appears All-out From Shakedown Session to Finish Rally
The GR Yaris AP4 driven by Ryan Nirwan and co-driver Adi Indiarto sped up quickly since the start flag was raised.
This hot hatchback immediately recorded the fastest time in the shakedown session on Friday (5/8) with the fastest time of 03:54.7.
Continuing on Saturday (6/8), the GR Yaris AP4 was so reliable when it came to supporting the TGRI rally drivers when they bulldozed the dirt track in the plantation area.
One by one the special stages were passed by the TGRI rally drivers with the fastest time until Sunday (7/8).
As a result, the TGRI team managed to secure first place with the fastest total time of 1:56:07.2, more than 2.5 seconds ahead of its rival who was in second place.
"Me and Adi are very grateful because the TGRI team was able to find the best setting on the GR Yaris AP4 so that we can maximize its performance to win first place at the 2022 Lake Toba Rally National Championship," said TGRI racer Ryan Nirwan.
"Honestly, the track is not only challenging, but also very long where the durability of the GR Yaris AP4 is tested, so it requires us to stay focused while driving it through 7 special stages," he continued.
"In the future we will continue to give our best to continue to lead and win the national title with the TGRI team," Ryan concluded.
The Yaris track record in the WRC event is getting stronger often with the success of TOYOTA GAZOO Racing in winning the overall championship for drivers and constructors in 2021.
The motorsport DNA was passed down to the GR Yaris because it was made to meet the homologation rules as a condition for competing in the WRC competition.
Created from scratch using the reverse engineering method, the GR Yaris comes as a fun-to-drive urban vehicle with handling and tough performance typical of a rally car.
"The GR Yaris used by TGRI racers has been modified with reference to the Asia-Pacific 4WD (AP4) regulations so that they can compete in the M1 class (All Wheel Drive Sedan) category A," said Marketing Director of PT Toyota Astra Motor (TAM), Fumitaka Kawashima. .
"This car has received technical developments that make it lighter by reducing weight in several areas, more aerodynamic with a dashing and functional body kit, and more responsive thanks to the touch on the engine and all wheel drive (AWD) transmission," he continued.
"Together with the GR Yaris AP4, we believe that the TGRI racers and teams can continue to lead and win the national title this season," concluded Fumitaka Kawashima.
