Makinen returns: Ex-champ to lead Toyota

LONDON, England - Retired four-times World Rally champion Tommi Makinen will be Toyota's team principal when the Japanese automaker returns to the sport in 2017,

Toyota said on Tuesday (July 7 2015) that the 51-year-old Finn won his four successive titles with Mitsubishi from 1996-99.

18-YEAR COMEBACK

Toyota president Akio Toyoda, a keen amateur racer who has taken driving instruction from Makinen, will be chairman of the team when it returns after an 18-year absence.

Toyota won four Drivers' and three Manufacturers' titles in the 1990's before leaving the series as the champion team in 1999 are returning with a Yaris WRC car prepared in Germany.