At Rally Japan, which ran from November 21 to 24, Toyota and Hyundai battled it out to the very end. The next day, a special ad appeared in Japanese newspapers.
This year’s World Rally Championship (WRC) wrapped up with Rally Japan, held from November 21 to 24. It was the country’s third time hosting the season finale. Unlike in 2023, however, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing went into its home event chasing the top-placed Hyundai team.
The rally got underway on Thursday. Until Sunday morning, Hyundai had the upper hand and appeared to have clinched the manufacturers’ title.
Then in the final power stage, Toyota dominated the rankings, racking up lots of points. The season closed with a thrilling finale, as Toyota staged a miraculous comeback to claim the crown.
The following morning, Japanese newspapers featured an ad with a message written partly in Korean and signed by Akio Toyoda/Morizo from the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team.
最終戦のラリージャパンまで
チャンピオンをかけて
競えて楽しかったです
What a thrill it was to compete for the championship
down to the final round, Rally Japan.
ファンの皆さまにも楽しいラリーを
見ていただけました
来年もいい勝負しましょう
The fans also had a chance to see an exciting rally.
Let’s put on another great contest next year.
정의선 회장과 현대자동차 여러분
진심으로 축하합니다.
My heartfelt congratulations to Executive Chair Euisun Chung
and everyone at Hyundai Motor Company.
Kiitos! (Thank you!)
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team
Akio Toyoda/MORIZO
After Rally Japan, the message included Morizo’s words of gratitude for Executive Chair Euisun Chung and everyone at Hyundai Motor Company.
Ahead of the rally in October, the two companies had held a joint motorsports event in South Korea, the Hyundai N x TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Festival.
At the event, Morizo shook hands with Hyundai’s Euisun Chung, who vowed to “work with Toyota in the racing arena so that more people can experience the joy of driving.”
Despite being rivals in rally, Hyundai and Toyota are partners in creating the future mobility society and boosting the presence of motorsports in Asia. With the rally world still buzzing, the morning newspaper ad highlighted the shared commitment of the companies’ leaders.
Hyundai releases its high-performance models under the Hyundai N brand, borrowing the “N” from Nürburgring. Similarly, the “N” in TOYOTA GAZOO Racing’s high-performance GRMN also stands for the renowned circuit.
GR Company President Tomoya Takahashi has previously hinted at fielding a GR Yaris in the Nürburgring endurance race. Alongside the rally, we may soon see the two companies revving up motorsports on the racetrack as well.