The Jyväskylä City Council approved both the partial master plan and the detailed plan on Monday, enabling the construction of Toyota Gazoo Racing’s rally team’s planned development center in the northern part of the city of Jyväskylä in Finland.
Toyota’s plans include building a new development center, a two-kilometre test track, and a separate service building for the track area. The partial master plan concerns the test track, while the detailed plan covers the technology centre.
Toyota intends to base its future rally team operations in the Majajärvi area, located on the border of Jyväskylä and Laukaa near the town of Leppävesi. Currently, Toyota’s WRC team facilities are situated in Jyskä, Jyväskylä.
Toyota’s ambitious project received an environmental permit in May, but one appeal was filed against the decision. As a result, the permit issue has been forwarded to the Vaasa Administrative Court for review.
According to Finnish Broadcasting Company YLE, Toyota GR’s Operations Manager Jan Kinnunen stated that the next step would be to apply for a building permit for the technology centre, provided no appeals are filed against the City Council-approved plans.
Earlier this year, Toyota’s team principal Jari-Matti Latvala told RallyJournal.com that the team has strong confidence in the project’s realisation, as the city of Jyväskylä is supporting the rally team’s initiative.
“Of course, we have to expect that criticism may arise from some quarters. However, let’s put it this way: this project is being carried out in cooperation with the city of Jyväskylä. The city is supporting us in this effort,” Latvala emphasised.
“It’s reassuring to know we can overcome various challenges together. Without the city’s support, it would certainly be much more difficult.”
