Toyota should look beyond the one-make route

Vinayak is curious to see just how involved with Indian rallying Toyota gets…

Indian rallying has had it rough of late. Extremely short special stage distances and cancellations this year on account of weather are problems that have been sprinkled on top of poor manufacturer participation and trouble with promoting the Indian National Rally Championship.

Mahindra and Volkswagen have, so far been the only manufacturers to have committed to rallying in India but news of Toyota’s participation is definitely welcome. They have had history with competing in India but only through a one-make touring car series with the double aim of being an entry point for racing as well as promoting their Etios saloon. 

Now while the Etios and the derivative hatchback the Etios Liva have not been runaway sales successes, their presence in the Indian market is still noticeable. Toyota has made improvements to both models since they were introduced but they still don’t register at the top of potential car buyers’ minds. Participation in rallying could have some effect on that as it would be a good advertisement to the sturdiness of a car, provided it finishes and places well in the overall classification. 

And while the cars entered in the INRC will be heavily modified and tested by one of the best tuning companies in the business – Red Rooster Racing – there will still be enough of the car remaining for Toyota to be able to advertise the Liva as a tough and capable performer. 

By the time you read this, two Etios Livas would have competed in the India Rally in Chikmagalur, provided Toyota India felt confident enough to enter the cars after testing and recce.
 
I guess ultimately my hope of Toyota’s participation is that they don’t have cold feet and at least commit to a customer rally program the way Volkswagen has done. Motorsport is often a symbiotic relationship between the championship and the manufacturer. Both benefit from each other and while motorsport remains on the fringes of the Indian consciousness for the most part, there is still enough of a following by enthusiasts to make it relevant to a manufacturer’s image. 

Not to mention any mention of their participation in a particular championship in the general media at least merits some level of recognition by the average media consumer. So far there have been reports that Toyota plans to start a one-make rallying series, which is a bit of a headscratcher. Why not go all in and compete against other brands instead of just competing with yourself with no one to challenge you?

That is essentially the problem in four-wheel cross-country rallying at the moment. Maruti’s approach to competition has turned events like the Raid de Himalaya and Desert Storm into essentially one-make affairs. 

Eventually one would like to see such competitive spirit spill over into touring car racing too, but that is a long way down the road, to be honest. For now I am happy to see a major manufacturer join two others in a championship that is best suited to the Indian motorsport scene. Natural terrain, penetration into both urban and rural areas and of course, lots of potential for drama. Drama on the stages that is, as I am not a big fan of the drama caused by infighting and politics.

Hopefully there will be positives that will come out of Chikmagalur for you to read about in next month’s issue. For now, as always is the case with motorsport in India, one day and one event at a time. Fingers crossed.