During its stint in the World Rally Championship with the Corolla WRC, Toyota won a total of four official rounds. Two of them were with the car that is for sale today. Carlos Sainz and Luis Moya were the protagonists of both.
We are talking about chassis number 609 of the Corolla WRC, registered on December 19, 1997 with the plate K-AM 307. With it, our representatives of the WRC at that time took the triumph in the Monte-Carlo and New Zealand Rallies of the 1998 season. Sainz and Moya finished in second place, two points behind Tommi Mäkinen after a story we all know.
Back then, as the vendors indicate, it was very rare for the same chassis to win two rallies in the same year due to the high level of competition and fewer races compared to today. A period article reported by Kankkunen was the previous one to get it in 1993.
After his journey as an officer, the unit ended up in the hands of Abdullah Bakhashab -Toyota Team Saudi Arabia-, a driver who competed in four WRC rounds (best place in Acropolis, eighth). The car traveled, a few months later, to Toyota Team Denmark. Jens Mulvad was the driver chosen to race the car. He managed to be crowned the Danish Champion in 2001 with the colors of Castrol.
The last appearance of this car in the World Rally Championship dates from the 2002 Rally Germany. Wevers Sport, a well-known Dutch preparer, rented the car to several customers after its purchase, until it was sold to other renowned specialists from TTE DMS-Belgium. Christian Vincent was its next owner in 2008. He kept the car until 2016.
Serge Cazaux, a collector and its current owner, ordered a restoration to meet the exact specifications of the machine. The bodywork was repaired where necessary. The mechanical components were completely overhauled and the car was in perfect condition, ready to reach its full potential.
The car is presented today in an impressive condition, similar to that of that “Monte” in 1998. The car has traveled less than 1000 kilometers since its total restoration. 609 chassis is an incredible opportunity to acquire a ‘Monte Carlo winner’. Trasmiera Rally Festival 2019 was the last rallye of the car with Cazaux at the controls.
