Mobil 1 has enjoyed a successful return to the FIA World Rally Championship with Toyota, scoring victory in just its second race back in the series.
Mobil 1 teamed up with Toyota Gazoo Racing upon the latter's return to the WRC after 19 years away, with Mobil 1 Racing Oil being used in the Toyota Yaris WRC. Mobil 1 branding will also appear on the drivers' race suits through 2017.
After scoring a podium finish on debut in Monte Carlo, Toyota hit the top step of the podium at the second round of the year in Sweden as Jari-Matti Latvala claimed an impressive victory.
“The Mobil 1 brand got its start in rally racing nearly 40 years ago, and we are thrilled to return to our roots by partnering with Toyota Gazoo Racing as they also return to the WRC this year,” said Kai Decker, global motorsports and sponsorship manager at ExxonMobil Fuels, Lubricants and Specialties Marketing Company.
“This is an excellent opportunity for us to continue building on our collaborative and successful relationship with Toyota.”
“The WRC is the pinnacle of rally racing and we value the support from Mobil 1 to help make sure Toyota Yaris WRC engines are operating at peak performance,” added Shigehisa Kitazawa, general manager, Motorsport Marketing Division, at Toyota.
“The Toyota Yaris WRC represents a new generation of world rally cars, and we welcome both the challenges and opportunities our team will face this year. These challenges and opportunities contribute to making the best cars for our everyday consumers.”
ExxonMobil global motorsports technology manager Bruce Crawley believes that the WRC is the perfect series in which to develop Mobil 1's products due to the extreme nature of the tests involved.
“The Yaris WRC is an impressive rally car, and it is exciting to see Toyota and Mobil 1 motor oil return to rally racing this year,” Crawley said.
“The extreme and demanding conditions that are encountered during the WRC require a high-performance lubricant like Mobil 1 motor oil. Mobil 1 has been designed to withstand extremely high operating temperatures and is proven to protect at engine temperatures up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit and in the most challenging environments."