Our pursuit of high performance in the WRC

Armed with more knowledge, a stronger, faster Yaris WRC and three hard-charging crews, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing tackle the 2018 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) pushing the limits for better.

Sign up for motorsport news

Rally pedigree

Toyota’s rich history in international motorsport began at the 1957 Round Australia Rally. After a momentous first WRC win at the 1,000 Lakes Rally in 1975, we went on to record a series of landmark victories in the years that followed. Thanks to superstar drivers like Juha Kankkunen and Carlos Sainz at the wheel of legendary cars such as the Celica GT-Four and Corolla WRC, passionate fans are likely to remember Toyota’s WRC efforts in the late 80s and 90s most fondly.

Up until the end of our factory-based team initiatives in 1999, Toyota made WRC history with three manufacturers’ and four drivers’ titles. Our entry was then paused until 2015 when Akio Toyoda announced that Toyota would return to the WRC in 2017.

'After a very pleasing first season in 2017,
we are very excited to keep on learning this year as
part of our mission to make ever-better cars'
Tommi Mäkinen (Team Principal)

2018 Toyota Yaris WRC

The Toyota Yaris WRC is a new generation rally car, tuned to near perfection in compliance with the 2017 FIA World Rally Car Technical Regulations. Due to a high-performance 1.6-litre turbo-charged engine, intelligent 4WD system and finely-tuned aerodynamics it can be driven safely at the limit on the world’s most demanding rally stages.

Based on lessons learned during our last season, the 2018 Yaris WRC features an upgraded aerodynamics package for increased front downforce and an update to the cooling system, which will benefit the team in the WRC’s hotter events.

Hot off the press

Read the latest Toyota news from every World Rally Championship round.

Discover more

Lappi excels with podium finish on Rally Italia Sardegna

Event 7 - Italy

Esapekka Lappi secured his first podium finish of the 2018 World Rally Championship on Sunday with a well-earned third place on Rally Italia Sardegna. His Toyota Gazoo Racing team-mates Jari-Matti Latvala and Ott Tänak also netted championship points in spite of damaging setbacks during the event.

The next event, the eighth round of the 2018 season, will be Rally Finland, running from 26 to 29 July. This is the fastest rally on the calendar, run over smooth gravel roads and featuring many jumps. It is the home event for the Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team, who have their base close to the service park in Jyväsklä. Finnish driver Lappi scored a home victory on the event in 2017.

Toyota's Esapekka Lappi shows Portuguese pace

Event 6 - Portugal

Esapekka Lappi survived a car-wrecking Rally Portugal to complete the sixth round of the FIA World Rally Championship in a strong fifth position on Sunday. In spite of Ott Tänak, winner of the previous round in Argentina, being sidelined from the action on Friday, and Jari-Matti Latvala being forced out of top-10 contention, Toyota Gazoo Racing were able to claim points and reaffirm the winning potential of the Yaris WRC.

The next round of the FIA World Rally Championship is another event on soft and sandy gravel in the south of Europe: Rally Italia Sardegna (7 to 10 June). Based in Alghero in the north west of the island of Sardinia, the Italian round of the series features fast and narrow stages. Exposed rocks, as well as trees at the side of the road, can catch out the unwary, while temperatures can often be high.

Tänak and Toyota triumphant in Argentina

Event 5 - Argentina

Ott Tänak and the Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team secured an impressive victory on Rally Argentina, the young Estonian claiming his first win for the team in only his fifth event at the wheel of the Yaris WRC.

Tänak and co-driver Martin Järveoja dominated the all-gravel rally, holding the lead from the end of the first full day of competition on Friday through to its climax on Sunday. En route to the winner’s podium, they won 10 stages and were able to control their advantage over the field through Sunday to finish more than 33 seconds clear of their nearest challengers.

Points and a podium for Toyota at Rally France

Event 4 - France

Ott Tänak claimed his second podium finish of the season on the Tour de Corse, the French round of the FIA World Rally Championship, on Sunday. Team-mate Esapekka Lappi just missed out on a top-three finish for the Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team.

Lappi’s hopes were dashed by a puncture on the final day, but he recovered to win the Power Stage – his fourth stage win of the challenging all-asphalt event. The points from Rally France move Toyota up to third in the manufacturers’ championship, with Tänak also third in the drivers’ standings.

Clean-sweep finale for Toyota on tough Rally Mexico

Event 3 - Mexico

Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team ended a gruelling Rally Mexico with a flourish yesterday, claiming a clean-sweep of wins in the final day’s three stages to net valuable championship points. The third round of the 2018 FIA World Rally Championship had taken a heavy toll, with all three Yaris WRC having to retire from the action at different points during the four days of action.

Toyota Yaris WRC on the pace in Sweden

Event 2 - Sweden

Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team completed Rally Sweden with eight stage wins to their credit but frustratingly outside the podium places.

The team’s progress in the second round of the 2018 FIA World Rally Championship was hampered by early stage start positions, in effect making them pathfinders for cars lower down the order as they cleared newly fallen snow from the road surface.

Double podium for Toyota at Rallye Monte-Carlo

Event 1 - Monte Carlo

Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team enjoyed a superb start to their 2018 campaign with a double podium result on Rallye Monte-Carlo yesterday (28 January). Team newcomer Ott Tänak scored an excellent second place, leading home the Yaris WRC of Jari-Matti Latvala.

Tänak impressed throughout his first event in Toyota colours, quickly adapting to the car to set four fastest stage times and challenge for victory in typically demanding road and weather conditions. Lying in second place going into the four stages that made up the fourth and final day of the rally, he played a cautious game which duly delivered his podium result.

Ultimate training ground

Epic jumps, sensational slides and terrifying top speeds, the WRC is the ultimate vehicle test bed. After 17 years away, we are hungrier than ever to fight on the world’s most extreme roads, and achieve our goal of making ever-better cars for all.

“I’m very excited that we’re going
to keep on learning this year”
Tommi Mäkinen
(Team Principal)

Born to perform

The Yaris WRC is a new generation rally car built to be driven at the limit on the world’s most demanding rally stages.

**Engine:**
1.6-litre, in-line 4-cylinder direct injection engine.

**Maximum power:**
Over 380 PS - nearly twice the power of Yaris GRMN hot hatch

**Top speed:**
201 kph (ratio specific) – geared for incredible acceleration and response

**Aerodynamics:**
New front bumpers and fenders increase downforce and balance

All roads lead to better

Tarmac

Twisty turns, unforgiving roads and durable hard tyres. Lowered suspension is a must-have for high-speed events such as Tour de Corse.

Gravel

Rutted roads, rocky tracks and a range of tyre compounds. Raised gravel suspension is crucial for hot weather events such as Rally Mexico.

Snow

Frozen roads, snow banks and studded tyres. A loose-surface suspension setup is essential for sub-zero events such as Rally Sweden.

Yaris GRMN: From rally to road

Born with rally DNA, the limited-edition Yaris GRMN road car was tuned and tested on the Nürburgring Nordschleife, reigniting the spirit of hot hatches from the past. Through its combination of power, precision and performance, the Yaris GRMN reignites the spirit of hot hatches from the past.

Discover Yaris GRMN