TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team (TGR-WRT) will field two distinct teams with two different cars and a star-studded driver line-up as the FIA World Rally Championship enters a new era in 2027.
The two squads will compete as TOYOTA RACING, debuting the GR Celica Rally1 car, and GAZOO Racing TOYOTA, campaigning the new 2027 GR Yaris Rally1 car.
The combined driver line-up across the two teams will feature at least three world champions, with the 2026 title winner Elfyn Evans joined by two returning heroes in Ott Tänak and Kalle Rovanperä. Completing an impressive mix of rally-winning experience and proven potential are the WRC’s three newest rally winners: Oliver Solberg, Sami Pajari and Takamoto Katsuta.
In 2026, TGR-WRT secured a record-equalling sixth consecutive manufacturers’ championship, with all five of its official crews claiming multiple rally wins and contending for the drivers’ and co-drivers’ titles. Three drivers continued the fight all the way to a thrilling final stage of the season, where Evans ultimately prevailed by just five points ahead of Solberg and six ahead of Pajari.
Under new Rally1 technical regulations for 2027, the ethos of providing all drivers with a car they can win with remains central, with preparations underway to field up to six factory cars on each rally. These will be entered across two teams that will compete as equal challengers for victory, further enhancing competition and creating new stories for fans to follow and enjoy.
TGR-WRT will continue to operate both teams under the same roof at its headquarters in Jyväskylä in Finland. Supporting the competition between them and the development of the two cars will strengthen its efforts to make ever-better cars, drawing on feedback from strong driver line-ups assembled to give both teams the opportunity to compete for victory.
The TOYOTA RACING drivers will be entrusted with the new GR Celica Rally1 car, returning one of the most iconic names in Toyota rally history to the WRC.
Its line-up will be led into the 2027 season by the defending drivers’ and co-drivers’ champions, Elfyn Evans and Scott Martin. Entering their eighth successive full season with the team, the experienced and ever-consistent Welsh-English duo have started more rallies for Toyota than anyone else in the company’s long WRC history and secured their hard-earned first world titles this year having finished runners-up on five previous occasions.
Alongside them will be Oliver Solberg and Elliott Edmondson. The spectacular Swedish driver and his British navigator finished as runners-up in their first full season with TGR-WRT this year – scoring three victories and more stage wins than anyone else – after winning the WRC2 title with the GR Yaris Rally2 car in 2025.
Completing the TOYOTA RACING trio will be another up-and-coming force in the WRC, Sami Pajari and Marko Salminen. The Finns finished third in the standings and took three wins in what was their second full season competing at the highest level, demonstrating exceptional consistency with nine podiums from 13 events.
The GAZOO Racing TOYOTA drivers will take the wheel of the 2027 GR Yaris Rally1 car, aiming to build on the remarkable success already achieved by the GR Yaris under the outgoing ruleset.
Its line-up includes Ott Tänak and Martin Järveoja, who renew their successful WRC partnership with GAZOO Racing seven years after winning the 2019 world championship aboard the Toyota Yaris WRC. In their previous spell with the team, the Estonian duo won 10 rounds of the WRC across two seasons.
Joining them at GAZOO Racing TOYOTA are Takamoto Katsuta and Aaron Johnston, following a breakthrough 2026 campaign in which they achieved their maiden WRC victories in Kenya and Croatia and Katsuta became the first Japanese driver to ever lead the championship standings.
Also making a highly anticipated return to WRC competition with GAZOO Racing TOYOTA following a year away will be Kalle Rovanperä and Jonne Halttunen. Rovanperä became the youngest ever World Rally Champion as the Finnish pairing won back-to-back titles with TGR-WRT in 2022-23, and they will contest a partial season of selected events.
This will provide the team with the possibility to welcome other drivers into its line-up during the season. This could include selected appearances for experienced drivers such as nine-time world champion Sébastien Ogier, who remains part of the GAZOO Racing family. The team will also continue to explore opportunities for young drivers, like those in the GR WRC Challenge Program, who show potential to compete at the top level.
The TGR-WRT name will be retained by the Jyväskylä-based high-performance development company as it moves into an exciting new era. The presentation of the driver line-up at the Jyskä HQ followed an official groundbreaking ceremony the previous day (November 2) at the site of its new technical center now under construction at nearby Majajärvi.
Meanwhile, in the surrounding forests of central Finland, the team is today (November 3) concluding six days of rally simulation testing with its 2027 prototype. The GR Celica Rally1 and GR Yaris Rally1 cars will run to the same new WRC Car regulations – aimed at increasing competition by making the top Rally1 category more accessible – with equal power and performance. With the homologation process due for completion before the end of this year, further details regarding the two cars and their liveries will be released prior to the 2027 season.
Quotes:
Elfyn Evans (TOYOTA RACING driver)
“This was another strong season for us and for the team, and it was obviously very special to finally get the world championship over the line after coming close a few times before. I’m grateful to everyone who has continued to support and believe in us, and especially the team. I’m very happy to head into our eighth season with TOYOTA as we enter this new era. I think we share a similar mentality of always wanting to push for better and achieve more, so our goals are very much aligned. Attention is already turning to next year and what’s to come with the new car. It will be very different from what we’ve been used to, so there’s some work ahead for everyone to adapt and get the most out of it. I’m looking forward to that challenge and hope we can keep on achieving good things together.”
Oliver Solberg (TOYOTA RACING driver)
“I’ve had an amazing first full year with the team. It was quite a rollercoaster season, with some incredible highs and also some tough moments, but we learned a lot and to fight for the championship right until the end was something special. Now I just want to take the positives and everything I’ve learned and look forward. It’s a dream for me to be a TOYOTA driver and it’s super exciting to enter this new era together and be involved in developing a brand-new car. Next season will be a completely new challenge for everybody so there will be a lot to learn and adapt to again, and hopefully we can have some great competition for everyone to enjoy. I will keep giving my best, enjoy the driving and the battles, and try to achieve more good results.”
Sami Pajari (TOYOTA RACING driver)
“I think we can be very happy with our 2026 season and the progress we have made. To take three wins and nine podiums and fight for the championship until the final round was more than we could have expected. I think we have proven that we can be competitive on many different kinds of rallies, and that gives me good confidence for the future. I’m really grateful to the team for supporting us and giving us this opportunity to grow and develop. I’m still young and I know there are areas in which we can keep improving and become even stronger for the future. Next year will be something completely new for everybody with the new cars, so there will be more things to learn, and I’m looking forward to the challenge. Hopefully we can build on what we’ve already achieved, keep pushing and enjoy more great moments.”
Ott Tänak (GAZOO Racing TOYOTA driver)
“I’m honoured to be back with GAZOO Racing TOYOTA and the team with which Martin and I became world champions. We have very good memories from our previous time here, and I have a lot of respect for the people and what they have achieved, so it has been nice to start working together again this year in a development role. I have enjoyed having some time away from competition, but the desire to drive has still been strong, and it’s been an interesting challenge to get involved in this new project. With such big technical changes, there has been a lot for us to discover and learn during this process. I’m excited to continue that work and have the opportunity to compete with the new car next season. It’s going to be a new start for everybody and there are still a lot of unknowns, but I’m looking forward to getting back on the stages and pushing together with the team to achieve some good results.”
Takamoto Katsuta (GAZOO Racing TOYOTA driver)
“This has been a special year for me, especially because I could achieve a target I had for a long time and take my first WRC victories. I’m very grateful to everybody who has supported me on this journey, but I still have a bigger target – to fight for a world championship title – so I need to keep working, pushing and improving myself. I feel very proud and fortunate to have driven some of the fastest ever rally cars thanks to this team, and now I’m really looking forward to a new challenge. It will be very interesting to see how these new cars develop, and I will try to adapt as soon as possible. It will also be very special for me to have Ott and Kalle back alongside me. They are both very good friends who have helped me a lot over the years, and I’m really excited to work and push together with them as team-mates.”
Kalle Rovanperä (GAZOO Racing TOYOTA driver)
“I’m really happy to have the opportunity to compete in rallies with GAZOO Racing TOYOTA and Jonne again next year. This team has always felt like family to me, and in a way I never really felt that I had left. I’m enjoying having the chance to do some different things, but rallying has been a huge part of my life and I naturally started to miss the driving after a while. The main priority this year became my health and once I was fit to drive again, the team offered me the opportunity to test the development car and from there we started making plans for next season. It’s an interesting time to come back, and while the new cars will be very different from what we had before, that makes it an exciting new challenge for me. The main thing will be to enjoy the driving and the competition, learn about the car, and see what we can do together.”
| Team | TOYOTA RACING | GAZOO Racing TOYOTA |
|---|---|---|
| Car | GR Celica Rally1 | GR Yaris Rally1 |
| Crews |
Elfyn Evans/Scott Martin Oliver Solberg/Elliott Edmondson Sami Pajari/Marko Salminen |
Ott Tänak/Martin Järveoja Takamoto Katsuta/Aaron Johnston Kalle Rovanperä/Jonne Halttunen |
GR WRC Challenge Program drivers take the next step
The GAZOO Racing WRC Challenge Program continues to nurture and develop young athletes with the potential to compete on the world stage.
Founded in 2015, the Program played a key role in Takamoto Katsuta’s journey from rally beginner to WRC event winner. It continues to support and develop young Japanese drivers with ambitions of following in Katsuta’s footsteps, and was expanded for 2026 to give opportunities to exceptional young talent from around the world.
Yuki Yamamoto, from the Program’s second generation, took on an expanded schedule of WRC events in 2026 driving the GR Yaris Rally2 car. In the highly competitive WRC2 category, he continued to demonstrate progress with his pace and achieved a landmark first podium on home roads at Rally Japan. Established as his country’s leading contender at Rally2 level and proving the pathway available for aspiring Japanese drivers, Yamamoto will target more strong results in 2027 when he returns to WRC2 for a championship campaign across selected rallies.
In 2026, a trio of drivers made their debut in the GR Yaris Rally2 and gained valuable experience across a range of national, European and World championship events. Young Estonian Jaspar Vaher, who joined the Program ahead of this year following its first-ever selection for global talent, impressed with his performances after stepping up from two-wheel drive machinery, achieving his first overall victories at the Rallye Ciudad de Pozoblanco in Spain and Jyväskylä Ralli in Finland as well as a strong fourth place in WRC2 at Rally Finland. Japan’s Takumi Matsushita, from the Program’s third generation, also claimed an overall win at Rali Terras d'Aboboreira in Portugal and showed promise and progress across different surfaces in what was only his third season of rally competition.
For 2027, Vaher and Matsushita have been chosen to take the next step and gain more experience through an expanded programme of WRC rounds across Europe and in Japan. Their preparation will include competing in the Rallye du Dévoluy in the French Alps this December. Shotaro Goto’s participation with the Program has concluded following the end of his 2026 season. During his three years with the Program he has shown significant growth, and all involved wish him every success for the future.
Rio Ogata and Kanta Yanaguida, the Program’s fourth generation of drivers, made history in 2026 as they finished first and second in the Finnish Rally Championship’s SM2 class, with Ogata becoming the first Japanese driver to ever win a Finnish rally title after a close battle between the pair.
With both showing strong promise while still early in their rally careers, having only contested their first events with the Program in mid-2025, Ogata and Yanaguida will continue at the wheel of Rally3 machinery into next year, making more WRC3 appearances to gain further experience through longer and tougher rallies, while also testing Rally2 cars to prepare for the next step.
Hiroya Minowa, the Program’s newest and youngest driver, made his rally debut in June and has shown encouraging progress across his first six events. For 2027, the 17-year-old will step up from Rally4 to Rally3 machinery, initially continuing to compete in Finland and the Baltic region due to his young age, with the potential for his schedule to be expanded later in the season.
Tomiya Maekawa, the only co-driver in the Program, continued to develop his experience across a variety of events in 2026, competing alongside Jarkko Nikara in Rally3 cars and joining Jari-Matti Latvala for selected historic rally outings. In 2027, Maekawa will become Latvala’s navigator on a more regular basis, focusing on the FIA European Historic Rally Championship.
Quotes:
Yuki Yamamoto
“During 2026 there have been ups and downs but I’ve learned a lot. I feel my performance definitely improved, as I could fight with the best drivers in WRC2 in some stages and set fastest times. In some rallies we had really consistent pace and could achieve a strong result, like the podium at Rally Japan. That showed what we are capable of and gives me confidence and encouragement for the future. There were also mistakes and incidents which meant I didn’t always turn our pace into a good result. That is what I need to work on for next year to bring everything together, working on my driving as well as the physical and mental side, to avoid mistakes and be more consistent. I’m very grateful to everyone who has been supporting me, and together I feel we can have a fantastic year and fight for wins and the championship.”
Jaspar Vaher
“My first season with the Program has been a very positive experience. It was my first season in a four-wheel drive car and I was able to gain a lot of experience from many different rallies. I also had the opportunity to prove myself against the fastest drivers in the Rally2 category, and I believe we showed good potential and achieved good results, so I’m really happy about that. I’m really excited to take another step forward next year and do more WRC events. It will be a big challenge, and on rallies that are new to me I will need to be patient, but on rallies where I have some prior experience, I hope I can show more of my potential and achieve good results. Thank you to the Program for giving me this amazing opportunity to follow my dream, to my instructor Juho Hänninen, and to everyone supporting me.”
Takumi Matsushita
“My first season driving the GR Yaris Rally2 car was a learning experience at every event. The chassis and suspension are completely different from what I knew so I found it difficult to adapt at first, but winning in Portugal gave me a lot of confidence. After that, considering my lack of experience, I think I can be satisfied with my driving. I’m excited to contest more WRC rounds next season and compete regularly in the same class as many top drivers. It’s an environment where I can really grow and gain experience. On rallies that are new to me I’ll prioritise learning, while on those I already know, I hope to show speed close to the front of WRC2. I'd like to thank the team and our partners for this incredible opportunity, and I hope to repay everyone’s support through my attitude and my results.”
Rio Ogata
“This year brought many new experiences for me. Stepping up to Rally3 was not easy at first but also a really enjoyable challenge. After a surprise win in our first event, I had some tough moments over the rest of the winter, but once we moved to gravel and asphalt, we could show speed and consistency and win the championship in Finland. I also made some mistakes and have many things to improve, and the longer rallies showed me that there is still a lot to learn. I’m really thankful to the team and to be able to continue with the support of this amazing Program next year. I’m looking forward to taking on some different rallies with the Rally3 car, and gaining more experience with the GR Yaris Rally2. I can’t wait to get started, and I’ll keep pushing.”
Kanta Yanaguida
“Stepping up to the Rally3 car and competing for the Finnish Rally Championship this year, I enjoyed the battle with Rio throughout the year and learned a lot from it. I also gained more experience in different countries and on different surfaces, including longer WRC and ERC rallies for the first time. These events taught me about the concentration and strategy needed, and I feel I’ve gained a deeper understanding of rallying. I’m happy with my progress this year and looking forward to new challenges next year. I’m also excited to be testing the GR Yaris Rally2 car; with the extra performance, I need to keep improving my driving to get the most from the car. I’m really grateful to everyone involved in this Program, especially the team for their hard work at every rally and the instructors for their guidance.”
Hiroya Minowa
“It has been an amazing experience in my first season with this Program. I had no rally experience when I joined, so I was nervous about what to expect, but with the support of everyone involved, I could focus on my driving and learn a lot. Coming from drifting, I was used to driving rear-wheel drive cars, so adapting to the front-wheel drive Rally4 car was tricky at first, but the instructors and older drivers in the Program taught me a lot and really helped me. I’m really excited for next year. Stepping up to the four-wheel drive Rally3 car will be another new experience and I will try to keep improving and fight for the championship in Finland. I can’t thank everyone enough for their support, and I will do my best to achieve good results for them.”
Tomiya Maekawa
“My second year with the Program was another year of good progress with many new experiences. Stepping up to Rally3 with Jarkko and competing in longer and more demanding rallies brought many challenges, but a clean run with good stage times at Rally Finland gave me confidence. I also really enjoyed the chance to compete with Jari-Matti in the legendary Celica ST185. Working with a different driver and a completely different pacenote system has been great for developing my ability to adapt, which is very important for a co-driver. I’m really excited to do more EHRC rallies with Jari-Matti next year and take on an international championship season for the first time. I want to keep improving my skills as a co-driver, and I’m sure the variety of situations we’ll face next season will help me do that. I’m very thankful to everyone involved in making this possible.”
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TOYOTA GAZOO Racing WRC 2026 Official Partners
GAZOO Racing WRC Challenge Program is supported by following partners
