(Photos: wrc.com) Tommi Mäkinen’s reputation in World Rally Championship racing is set in stone. The man has four WRC titles under his belt (1996-1999) that he earned while throwing Mitsubishi Evos around the woods like toys. He also got Mitsubishi the 1998 World Constructor’s Title and won the 2000 Race of Champions. After chalking up 24 wins, Mäkinen bowed of racing in 2003, but has been working in the backgrounds since, messing with Subarus and a Toyota GT86 owned by Akio Toyoda. Saying Mäkinen knows how to work rally racing is the understatement of the century, and now, it looks like Toyota has tapped him to be the team principal for the Toyota GAZOO Racing WRC team that is set to appear in 2017. Running a Yaris-based vehicle, Toyota GAZOO has full support from Toyoda himself. In a press release, Toyoda addressed the reasoning behind the move to bring in Mäkinen:

Whenever I’m behind the wheel, I always think: “it is the road that makes the car.” For Toyota to make ever-better cars, we have to get a feel for all the kinds of roads that are out there. Rallying requires us to drive on the very roads our customers use every single day, and I believe it is the perfect training activity, ultimately helping us to strengthen our products. As the pinnacle of rallying, WRC is the best way to experience roads all over the world―that’s why Toyota is returning to the championship. And I am very happy and excited to have Tommi Mäkinen heading up our WRC team. I first met Tommi in 2013. At that time he was my instructor, helping me improve my driving technique. In the end, he taught me a lot more; he showed me the appeal of rallying and the relationship between vehicle development and rallying. Tommi has abundant experience and fresh ideas for vehicle development, both of which will be valuable assets to us. After talking to Tommi, I felt: “I want to work with him; I want him to help us make better cars,” and that’s how I came to ask for his support with this project. With Tommi behind us, Toyota will forge ahead with our return to WRC and also our efforts to make ever-better cars. Rallying allows both participants and spectators to feel the enjoyment of cars, and it encourages car manufacturers to hone their skills. We have been away from WRC for a long time as a manufacturer. I have huge respect for the manufacturers, drivers, team members, and fans that make this wonderful competition what it is, and I’m thrilled to bring Toyota back to WRC. Please join me in supporting Toyota GAZOO Racing.

-Akio Toyoda