Toyota not ruling out RS version of new GT3 rival

Humiliation. That's what Toyota chairman and all-round PH hero Akio 'Morizo' Toyoda felt after being lapped countless times by purpose-built European race cars while driving a tarted-up Altezza (or Lexus IS over here) during his Nürburgring 24 Hours debut in 2007. Rivals supposedly mocked the then-company vice-president for his lacklustre effort, insisting Toyota didn't stand a chance against the European establishment. The jibing had left Toyoda so embarrassed that he vowed to return with the Japanese mega-corp’s full force behind him. Since then, the company has gone on to win Le Mans five times, dominate the World Rally Championship and rack up four wins at the Dakar Rally.