Toyota Is Making A Triumphant Return To WRC

Great news for Japanese rally fans! Following months of speculation, it has finally been confirmed that Toyota will return to the World Rally Championship in 2017.

Toyota Motor Corporation president Akio Toyoda made the announcement during a press conference in Tokyo, with the Yaris WRC making its public debut in a striking launch livery.

The car has already completed a preliminary test programme on both tarmac and gravel stages. It will be powered by a 1.6-litre turbocharged, direct injection engine producing over 300bhp.

Toyota Motorsport GmbH will develop the car over the next two seasons, before it makes its debut in 2017. The firm won four drivers’ and three manufacturers’ world titles in the 1990s, making its last appearance with the iconic Castrol-liveried Corolla WRC in 1999.

Toyoda paid a visit to Rally Finland last year to cast his eye over the World Rally Championship, and realised just how important Toyota’s participation in rallying was to fans: “During my time there many rally fans asked me when Toyota would come back to WRC. People talked about Toyota’s history in WRC, and I was filled with surprise and gratitude that so many people remembered.”

Testing programmes will now be expanded following the announcement. Eric Camilli has been selected as the first member of Toyota’s junior driver scheme and he will help the development of the Yaris WRC alongside Stéphane Sarrazin and Sebastian Lindholm.