The team was therefore unable to make major setup changes during the day, and the drivers were only able to adjust damping forces and vehicle height. Unfortunately, there was no designated service period scheduled for Day 2, when the true gravel SSs began. The drivers continue to battle in disadvantageous conditions They were dogged by understeer-where the Yaris WRC would not turn as well as they would like into the corner-and suffered from a lack of traction. The huge difference in course conditions during the test and during the rally itself bewildered the drivers, too. However, since conditions would often alternate between good traction and sudden skidding, it was difficult for the team to decide whether to optimize the car for high or low levels of grip, and it was difficult for the drivers to gauge the best way to drive. It would be easy for the team to respond, for example, if grip levels were low throughout the SS. Of added concern was the fact that grip levels varied wildly even in the course of a single SS. The surface became extremely muddy, and grip levels fell significantly as a result. However, since it was still wet beneath the surface, the gravel was gradually churned up as multiple rally cars drove through. Since the weather was good, the surface was dry on some parts of the course. Road surface temperatures were low, and the gravel contained high levels of moisture. When the rally started, however, the course conditions on each SS were different to the pre-event tests. The drivers are bewildered by road conditions that differ considerably from pre-event tests And, while the team was somewhat concerned at not having had a sufficient run-out in cold, wet conditions, they headed into the rally itself having prepared as best they could. In these conditions, the Yaris WRC handled superbly. However, conditions during the tests were not what the team expected: on some days it was even warm enough to wear t-shirts, and rainfall was sporadic. At this time of year, it is usually cold in Wales with frequent rain. The TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team conducted its pre-event tests in the area just one week before the rally. It is no simple task to optimize the car for both sets of road conditions to make matters worse, the driving conditions for Rally GB SSs are not found in any country other than the United Kingdom. As a result, grip levels drop dramatically, and cornering speeds likewise fall. When it rains, however, the gravel becomes waterlogged, and the previously firm road surface turns into mud. When completely dry, traction is extremely high, and the cars corner at incredible speeds. The levels of tire grip on Welsh gravel SSs differ vastly depending on whether conditions are dry or wet. Past editions of Rally GB, which takes place primarily in Wales, have experienced a variety of different conditions including rain, fog, and hail. With its complex topography, Wales is said to have particularly unpredictable weather. The Yaris WRC encounters unexpected difficulties at this traditional gravel rally yet, on the Welsh dirt roads, the team identifies clues essential for further progress “Four seasons in a single day”īritish weather is extremely changeable, and many people leave their houses with umbrellas even when skies are clear.
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