The Japanese brand Toyota has revealed its intention to compete in the World Rally Championship (WRC) of 2027 with two models, the GR Celica and the GR Yaris. This strategy includes the creation of two separate teams that will feature a total of six drivers.
The reigning champions have adopted an innovative approach for the upcoming season, with the homologation of two body types designed in accordance with new technical regulations. The idea comes from the president of Toyota Racing Team, Akio Toyoda, who aims to promote various products and enhance fan engagement.
The GR Celica, which has not participated in the WRC since the 90s, will be driven by pilots such as Elfyn Evans, Oliver Solberg, and Sami Pajari, who will compete under the Toyota Racing banner. On the other hand, the GR Yaris will be managed by Gazoo Racing and driven by Takamoto Katsuta, along with world champions Ott Tanak and Kalle Rovanperä, who will participate in a partial campaign.
The team director, Jari-Matti Latvala, has justified his decision by highlighting that the current regulations allow for significant cost savings, which facilitates the exploitation of more vehicles. The idea is to improve the fan experience with different stories and vehicles.
Latvala explained that the distribution of drivers between the two teams was done without consulting them beforehand. Thus, Tanak, who won his title with the Yaris, has been placed in the Yaris team, while Rovanperä has been placed in the same team due to his successful history with the vehicle.
Despite the two models displaying differences in body types, Toyota’s technical director, Tom Fowler, has assured that they will be technically equivalent, including aerodynamic resistance data. The goal is to ensure that both vehicles compete with similar performance, despite aesthetic variations.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
