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Toyota revives Celica for a two-team WRC campaign

Toyota will field the GR Celica and GR Yaris through separate teams in the 2027 World Rally Championship. Ott Tänak and Kalle Rovanperä return to its driver roster, with Rovanperä contesting selected events. The expanded operation plans up to six factory cars at individual rallies, developed from the same Finnish base. Approval of the new cars is scheduled for December.

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A coupe-bodied rally car and a hatchback-bodied rally car in adjacent preparation bays at a shared development workshop in Jyväskylä.

Celica and Yaris get separate teams

Toyota has announced a two-team entry for the 2027 World Rally Championship (WRC), bringing the Celica name back alongside the Yaris. Ott Tänak and Kalle Rovanperä are returning to its driving roster.[1], [2]

Toyota Racing will use the GR Celica Rally1, with Elfyn Evans and Scott Martin, Oliver Solberg and Elliott Edmondson, and Sami Pajari and Marko Salminen. The GR Yaris Rally1 goes to Gazoo Racing Toyota, whose crews pair Tänak with Martin Järveoja, Rovanperä with Jonne Halttunen, and Takamoto Katsuta with Aaron Johnston.[1]

Former champions return on different schedules

Tänak won the 2019 world title with Toyota and returns seven years after that success. He and Järveoja took 10 victories during their earlier spell in 2018 and 2019. Rovanperä, champion in 2022 and 2023 with Halttunen, will enter selected rallies after a year away from the series.[1]

Finnish base develops both cars

The operation plans to prepare up to six factory cars for individual rallies. Both teams remain based in Jyväskylä, Finland, where the Celica and Yaris are being developed in parallel. The cars’ homologation, the approval required for competition, is scheduled for December. Sébastien Ogier remains within the organisation and could make selected appearances.[1]

References

  1. News sourceWRCToyota announces two WRC teams as Tänak and Rovanperä return↩1↩2↩3↩4
  2. News sourceMotorboxToyota announces two teams and two cars for WRC 2027↩

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