The entry list for Rally Japan, released on Monday, revealed that Auriol, 66, will be at the starting line, competing in the national rally category with a Toyota GR Yaris.
Read more: Hyundai and Toyota weren’t bluffing – Rally Japan entry list published
It’s been quite some time since the French legend last entered a WRC event. His previous appearance in a WRC round was in Monte Carlo in 2005 – nearly 20 years ago.
For Auriol, Rally Japan holds a special significance. He won his only world title 30 years ago, in 1994, behind the wheel of a Toyota Celica.
Toyota’s WRC team partner, FIT-EASY, invited Auriol to take part in the rally. It didn’t take long for the Frenchman to agree.
“People in Japan have great memories of me driving with the Toyota Celica so the thinking was it would be nice to come here for the fans,” Auriol told Dirtfish.
“I called my old co-driver (Denis Giraudet) and said it could be interesting to do this, to have some fun together. Maybe it’s the last one.”
In recent years, Auriol has competed in a few one-off rallies and demonstration events. For Rally Japan, he’ll drive a production model GR Yaris modified to meet the Japanese JN1 category regulations.
Auriol would have preferred a slightly more powerful vehicle.
“When they proposed this rally with the JN1 car, I tried to push to have a Rally2. Even if it was just to enjoy driving a proper rally car, rather than compete. But the team doesn’t have this car, so it was impossible. But it would be even nicer to have been in a faster car,” Auriol joked.
Regardless, Auriol plans to enjoy his time in the cockpit alongside his long-time co-driver.
“It’s a nice thing for me, for Denis, for the fans, to be back in a Toyota 30 years after my title. But we won’t be pushing like hell – we’ll enjoy this one in a different way,” Auriol concluded.
