Esteban Ocon realized a lifelong ambition when he got behind the wheel of the Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 car at the 2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed. The French Formula 1 driver had long dreamed of driving a World Rally Championship (WRC) vehicle, and this opportunity was made possible through Haas’ ongoing partnership with Toyota. The event took place in the UK in late June, providing the perfect stage for Ocon to test the rally car on gravel and tarmac.
Childhood Dream Comes True with Toyota’s Surprise
Ocon revealed that his fascination with rally cars started years ago.
“I kept telling them since we went to Japan how I love cars and how I always wanted to test a WRC car,”
he said. Earlier this year, Toyota had already introduced him to gravel driving in a road-legal GR Yaris, an experience that heightened his excitement. The invitation to actually pilot the WRC car at Goodwood was kept under wraps by the team, who revealed the surprise only once Ocon checked his event schedule.
His initial reaction to seeing “Esteban, WRC” on the itinerary was one of disbelief and amusement.
“So, I receive it and I start to look at it, and I see ‘Esteban, WRC’,”
he recalled.
“So, I called Ayao [Komatsu, Haas team principal], saying, ‘Ayao, what’s that? Am I driving the WRC?’ And he’s like, ‘No, no, we just made a mistake.’ And then he starts laughing. And I’m like, ‘Okay, so what is it then?’ He’s like, ‘No, no, actually, you sit as a co-driver.’ And then he laughs again. So I went through all the stages of emotions. But actually, it turned out that Toyota [gave] me a huge surprise. They wanted me to drive the WRC.”
Driving the GR Yaris Rally1: A Dream Realized
Ocon’s enthusiasm for rally cars traces back to his early teens.
“That was the experience that I’ve always wanted. When I was young, I had a dream to – one day, if I’m successful enough in Formula 1 – buy a WRC car that I can drive every day. And then go to the shop with it and, you know… I found out about it later: these cars are road legal, but you have to have a special permit for the competition. But when I was 12, that was my dream.”
The Goodwood performance fulfilled that childhood fantasy beyond his expectations.
The quality and engineering of the WRC car impressed Ocon greatly. Having driven high-performance vehicles like Formula 1 cars, he noted the Rally1’s engineering in a way that surprised him. “It was super impressive, honestly,” he said.
“With some cars, maybe sometimes you test and, because you drive the F1 cars, you’re a bit blase from everything else.”
He compared the Rally1’s build to DTM race cars, saying,
“It’s basically like, everything is a prototype. But everything is so well thought. The handbrake is super easy, you don’t need to use the clutch. The steering feels super smooth, very easy to use. The throttle is super short in a way that you have to go full throttle straight away. I had a blast.”
Riding Alongside Toyota Rally Driver Takamoto Katsuta
Ocon also experienced the WRC car as a passenger with Toyota rally driver Takamoto Katsuta, which deepened his appreciation for the car’s capabilities.
“And first, you know what was the most impressive? Jumping on the side of Takamoto Katsuta. If I drove it only, I would have thought, yeah, the grip is not that great and all of that. But when I jumped on the side of him, I was like, ‘okay, this is something else’.”
Future Rallying Plans for Ocon
Asked if he would consider rallying in the future, Ocon said it would be something he might pursue for enjoyment after his Formula 1 career ends.
“For fun, after my F1 career, definitely,”
he stated. He was clear, however, that he would not aim to compete in the Rally1 class.
“But, it would never be in a Rally1 class. I will probably give them a call to have a test at some point, you know, to have fun for sure – if they let me have the opportunity. But first, to trust me to drive these cars on the rally stage, I will be forever grateful to Toyota, because it’s awesome.”
The Significance of Ocon’s WRC Debut
Esteban Ocon’s experience driving the Toyota WRC car at Goodwood highlights the collaborative relationship between Haas and Toyota, which extends beyond Formula 1 and into rally sports. This event not only fulfilled a personal dream for Ocon but also showcased his versatility and passion for motorsport. As Haas continues to explore synergies with Toyota, moments like this suggest exciting potential for driver development and cross-discipline engagement.
For Ocon himself, the WRC experience serves as a rewarding milestone that may influence his future career interests while bolstering his profile in the motorsport community as both a passionate driver and a versatile talent capable of tackling diverse racing challenges.