GT5 Transcripts/Toyota COROLLA Rally Car '98

In 1997, the Corolla WRC was Toyota's new weapon in bringing the company back to its former WRC glory days. This car was basically the old Celica rally car that was stuffed into a compact European-spec Corolla body. It inherited the Celica's 3S-G 2.0-litre turbo engine and also featured an advanced X-Track 6-speed sequential transmission.
Toyota began race testing the new compact car in the 5th round of the 1997 series, and made its official debut in the 10th round of that year in Finland. Its first full year was in 1998, as the Corolla got off to a quick start, winning the season opener in Monte Carlo with Carlos Sainz behind the steering wheel. Sainz finished second in the Driver's Championship and Toyota placed second in the Manufacturer's Championship.
Toyota, not satisfied with this result, made improvements to the car, most notably to weight distribution and reliability. The following year, a new, improved model was introduced (at the 4th round). The new Corolla was more stable and more durable than its predecessor. Although this season ended with only one victory (at the 11th round in China), Toyota consistently finished in the points and ended up winning the Manufacturer's Title that year. Although the Corolla brought the company back to the top of the WRC, the company pulled out of the rallying in 1999 to partake in a new race venture, Formula 1.
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