Toyota Gazoo World Rally Group will enter two distinct groups every operating a distinct automobile underneath the Toyota Racing and Gazoo Racing Toyota banners within the 2027 WRC season.
Toyota Racing will debut the all-new GR Celica Rally1 whereas the sister group will area the brand new 2027 specification GR Yaris Rally1 and can function each groups underneath the identical roof at its headquarters in Jyväskylä in Finland.
The 2 groups have three WRC Champions of their combine with the return to the WRC of Kalle Rovanperä and Ott Tanak becoming a member of Elfyn Evans within the driver lineup.
Having secured a sixth consecutive Producers’ Championship this yr, TGR-WRT has reiterated that each one six crews will obtain automobiles able to competing for victories and championships.
Competing underneath the Toyota Racing umbrella is the reigning Championship pairing of Evans and Scott Martin, who will probably be joined by Oliver Solberg and Elliot Edmondson – who gained extra stage than anybody else throughout the ’26 season and Sami Pajari and Marko Salminen who claimed a document three consecutive breakthrough WRC victories this yr.
Gazoo Racing Toyota will area Takamoto Katsuta and Aaron Johnston, the pair claiming their maiden rally victories this season previous, whereas the returning Ott Tänak and Martin Järveoja, who renew their profitable WRC partnership with Gazoo Racing seven years after profitable the 2019 world championship aboard the Toyota Yaris WRC.
Lastly, Rovanperä and co-driver Jonne Halttunen are again for a partial season, leaving the way in which open to share the sixth automobile with different drivers, most probably Sebastien Ogier who stays a part of the TGR household. The keys could also be handed to a promising teenager, which is one other prospect for the quickly approaching new season.
The presentation of the driving force line-up on the Jyskä HQ adopted an official groundbreaking ceremony on Monday, 2nd November on the web site of its new technical centre presently underneath development at close by Majajärvi.
Evans is delighted to be persevering with into his eighth season with the group: “This was one other robust season for us and for the group, and it was clearly very particular to lastly get the world championship over the road after coming shut just a few instances earlier than. I’m grateful to everybody who has continued to help and consider in us, and particularly the group. I’m very glad to go into our eighth season with Toyota as we enter this new period. I feel we share the same mentality of all the time desirous to push for higher and obtain extra, so our objectives are very a lot aligned. Consideration is already turning to subsequent yr and what’s to come back with the brand new automobile. Will probably be very completely different from what we’ve been used to, so there’s some work forward for everybody to adapt and get essentially the most out of it. I’m wanting ahead to that problem and hope we are able to carry on attaining good issues collectively.”
Solberg got here desperately near profitable the WRC title in his first full WRC season and is wanting ahead to a different robust season. I’ve had an incredible first full yr with the group. It was fairly a rollercoaster season, with some unimaginable highs and likewise some powerful moments, however we realized lots and to battle for the championship proper till the tip was one thing particular. Now I simply need to take the positives and all the things I’ve realized and look ahead. It’s a dream for me to be a TOYOTA driver and it’s tremendous thrilling to enter this new period collectively and be concerned in growing a brand-new automobile. Subsequent season will probably be a very new problem for everyone so there will probably be lots to be taught and adapt to once more, and hopefully we are able to have some nice competitors for everybody to get pleasure from. I’ll hold giving my finest, benefit from the driving and the battles, and attempt to obtain extra good outcomes.”
Pajari too, had a robust season. “I feel we may be very pleased with our 2026 season and the progress we’ve got made. To take three wins and 9 podiums and battle for the championship till the ultimate spherical was greater than we might have anticipated. I feel we’ve got confirmed that we may be aggressive on many various sorts of rallies, and that offers me good confidence for the longer term. I’m actually grateful to the group for supporting us and giving us this chance to develop and develop.
Tanak is wanting ahead to getting again on to the levels: “I’m honoured to be again with Gazoo Racing Toyota and the group with which Martin and I turned world champions. We have now excellent reminiscences from our earlier time right here, and I’ve lots of respect for the folks and what they’ve achieved, so it has been good to start out working collectively once more this yr in a growth position. I’ve loved having a while away from competitors, however the need to drive has nonetheless been robust, and it’s been an fascinating problem to become involved on this new challenge.”
Katsuta is wanting ahead to competing alongside his two champion teammates. “This has been a particular yr for me, particularly as a result of I might obtain a goal I had for a very long time and take my first WRC victories. I’m very grateful to all people who has supported me on this journey, however I nonetheless have a much bigger goal – to battle for a world championship title – so I have to hold working, pushing and bettering myself.”
Rovanperä admitted to lacking the driving though he loved with the ability to do issues and now that his well being is again to the place it was, is relishing the prospect to compete as soon as extra. “The primary precedence this yr turned my well being and as soon as I used to be match to drive once more, the group supplied me the chance to check the event automobile and from there we began planning for subsequent season. It’s an fascinating time to come back again, and whereas the brand new automobiles will probably be very completely different from what we had earlier than, that makes it an thrilling new problem for me. The primary factor will probably be to benefit from the driving and the competitors, be taught concerning the automobile, and see what we are able to do collectively.”
Toyota continues to nurture younger expertise by means of its GR WRC Problem Programme which can see seven proficient children competing in varied equipment throughout Rally2, 3 and 4.