Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT

Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT is Toyota Motor Corporation's factory World Rally Championship team. Based in Jyväskylä, Finland, the operation develops, prepares and enters Toyota rally cars in the global WRC series while also supporting Toyota's broader motorsport and performance-car activities. Although it carries the Toyota Gazoo Racing name, the WRC team is operationally distinct from Toyota's World Endurance Championship program; both sit within the wider Toyota Gazoo Racing Europe structure. Toyota announced in January 2015 that it intended to return to the WRC for the 2017 season. The decision ended an eighteen-year absence following Toyota's withdrawal after the 1999 season, when the company redirected attention toward Formula One. Initial development of the new Yaris WRC was assigned to Toyota Motorsport GmbH, the European motorsport organization associated with Toyota's earlier rally campaigns. Later in 2015, Toyota president Akio Toyoda transferred responsibility for the project to four-time world champion Tommi Mäkinen. Mäkinen established the team in Finland, and the project was rebuilt around the technical requirements of the new 2017 World Rally Car regulations. Toyota's European motorsport activities were also consolidated under the Toyota Gazoo Racing banner, with Toyota Motorsport GmbH becoming Toyota Gazoo Racing Europe. The team entered the 2017 championship with the Toyota Yaris WRC. Jari-Matti Latvala and Juho Hänninen formed the initial full-season driver pairing, while Esapekka Lappi joined during the year for a partial campaign. Toyota achieved a podium on its first WRC round, won Rally Sweden at its second event, and took another victory at Rally Finland. The team finished third in the manufacturers' standings, establishing a strong competitive base after its return. Toyota made a major step forward in 2018 by signing Ott Tänak and Martin Järveoja. Tänak won four rallies, including three consecutively, while Latvala added another victory. Toyota secured the manufacturers' championship, its first in the WRC since 1999. The result also made Mäkinen the first person to win a WRC title both as a driver and as a team principal. The team moved its service operation to Estonia in 2018, but retained headquarters, engineering, testing and administration in Finland. In 2019, Tänak and Järveoja won the drivers' and co-drivers' championships. Toyota recruited Kris Meeke and Sebastian Marshall after Lappi and Janne Ferm departed for Citroën, but Hyundai narrowly took the manufacturers' title. A substantially revised driver group arrived for 2020: six-time champion Sébastien Ogier joined from Citroën, Elfyn Evans moved from M-Sport, and young driver Kalle Rovanperä arrived from Škoda Motorsport. The pandemic shortened and disrupted the season, and Ogier won the drivers' title with Julien Ingrassia. Toyota again finished second among manufacturers. A significant organizational change occurred in September 2020, when Toyota acquired the team and operational assets of Tommi Mäkinen Racing. Mäkinen became a motorsport adviser to Toyota, and former Toyota driver Jari-Matti Latvala became team principal for 2021. Toyota won nine of twelve rallies and captured both manufacturers' and drivers' titles, with Ogier and Ingrassia taking their eighth championships before retiring from full-time WRC competition. Toyota also closed the Estonian facility at the end of 2021 and consolidated operations in Jyväskylä. The 2022 season introduced Rally1 regulations with hybrid power and tubular spaceframe chassis. Toyota replaced the Yaris WRC with the GR Yaris Rally1 Hybrid. Kalle Rovanperä and Jonne Halttunen won six rallies and became the youngest drivers' and co-drivers' world champions in WRC history. Toyota retained the manufacturers' championship and achieved a 1-2-3-4 finish at Safari Rally Kenya. Rovanperä and Halttunen successfully defended their titles in 2023, while Toyota won a third consecutive manufacturers' championship.…

Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT emerged from Toyota's decision to return to the World Rally Championship after leaving the series at the end of 1999. Toyota announced the return in January 2015, initially assigning development of the Yaris WRC project to Toyota Motorsport GmbH. In July of the same year, Toyota president Akio Toyoda placed four-time WRC champion Tommi Mäkinen in charge of the program. Mäkinen established the operation in Finland, and the design was restarted to meet the new World Rally Car regulations scheduled for 2017. Toyota's European motorsport activities were consolidated under the Toyota Gazoo Racing identity, with Toyota Motorsport GmbH renamed Toyota Gazoo Racing Europe. The team began competing in 2017 with Jari-Matti Latvala, Juho Hänninen and, later, Esapekka Lappi. Its debut season included a podium at Rally Monte Carlo, a victory at Rally Sweden and another win at Rally Finland. Toyota finished third in the manufacturers' championship. The 2018 recruitment of Ott Tänak and Martin Järveoja transformed the team's competitive position. Tänak won four rallies and Latvala won once, giving Toyota the manufacturers' title in its first full competitive year after the comeback. Toyota also opened a service facility in Estonia, while its principal engineering and administrative base remained in Finland. Tänak and Järveoja won the 2019 drivers' and co-drivers' titles. Toyota added Kris Meeke and Sebastian Marshall after Lappi and Janne Ferm departed for Citroën, but Hyundai won the manufacturers' championship. The 2020 season brought Sébastien Ogier, Elfyn Evans and Kalle Rovanperä into the Toyota lineup as Tänak moved to Hyundai and Meeke left. The COVID-19 pandemic reduced the calendar to seven completed rounds. Ogier and Julien Ingrassia won the individual championship, while Toyota finished second among manufacturers. In September 2020, Toyota acquired the team and operational assets of Tommi Mäkinen Racing. Mäkinen became a Toyota motorsport adviser, and former Toyota WRC driver Jari-Matti Latvala took over as team principal. Under Latvala, Toyota won nine of twelve rallies in 2021 and achieved a championship double. Ogier and Ingrassia won their eighth titles before leaving full-time rallying. The team subsequently closed its Estonian facility and concentrated operations in Jyväskylä. New Rally1 rules took effect in 2022, requiring hybrid power and a tubular spaceframe. Toyota responded with the GR Yaris Rally1 Hybrid. Rovanperä and Jonne Halttunen won six events and became the youngest WRC drivers' and co-drivers' champions. Toyota also retained the manufacturers' title and recorded a historic 1-2-3-4 finish at Safari Rally Kenya. In 2023, Rovanperä and Halttunen defended their titles, Ogier continued part-time and Toyota completed a third consecutive manufacturers' championship. Rovanperä later announced a part-time 2024 schedule before returning to full-time competition in 2025. Toyota continued to dominate the manufacturers' contest in 2024, winning the title by three points at Rally Japan. Hyundai's Thierry Neuville took the drivers' crown, ending Toyota's run of individual titles. The year also introduced the GR Yaris Rally2, developed at the Finnish headquarters for customer and support-category competition. It won in WRC2 and helped Sami Pajari and Enni Mälkönen achieve the WRC2 drivers' championship. In 2025, Rovanperä returned to a full-time Toyota program alongside Elfyn Evans and Takamoto Katsuta. Sami Pajari was promoted to a Rally1 car under the WRT2 entry, and four-time world champion Juha Kankkunen joined the management structure as deputy team principal when Latvala's historic-rally commitments required cover. The team's development role extends beyond its principal WRC cars. The TGR WRC Challenge Program, created in 2015, identifies and trains promising drivers and co-drivers, particularly from Japan, through competition in Finland and Europe. Its best-known graduate is Takamoto Katsuta, who progressed from the program into Toyota's main WRC team. The program has also supported later-generation drivers such as Hikaru Kogure, Nao Otake, Yuki Yamamoto, Shotaro Goto and Takumi Matsushita, with coaching from former rally competitors including Jouni Ampuja, Mikko Hirvonen and Juho Hänninen.

• 2025

  Rovanperä returns to full-time competition

  [1]Toyota Gazoo Racing WRTen.wikipedia.org

  Rovanperä returned to a full-time Rally1 schedule, while Sami Pajari was promoted to a Rally1 car under the WRT2 entry.

• 2024

  Manufacturers' title and GR Yaris Rally2 debut

  [1]Toyota Gazoo Racing WRTen.wikipedia.org

  Toyota won the manufacturers' championship and introduced the GR Yaris Rally2 in WRC2 competition.

• 2023

  Third consecutive manufacturers' title

  [1]Toyota Gazoo Racing WRTen.wikipedia.org

  Toyota extended its manufacturers' championship streak to three seasons, while Rovanperä and Halttunen retained their individual titles.

• 2022

  GR Yaris Rally1 Hybrid begins the Rally1 era

  [1]Toyota Gazoo Racing WRTen.wikipedia.org

  Toyota introduced its hybrid Rally1 car and won both principal championships, led by Rovanperä and Halttunen.

• 2021

  Championship double under Jari-Matti Latvala

  [1]Toyota Gazoo Racing WRTen.wikipedia.org

  Toyota won both manufacturers' and drivers' championships, with Ogier and Ingrassia taking their eighth titles.

• 2020

  Toyota acquires Tommi Mäkinen Racing assets

  [1]Toyota Gazoo Racing WRTen.wikipedia.org

  Toyota took ownership of the team's operating assets and moved Mäkinen into a corporate motorsport advisory role.

• 2019

  Tänak and Järveoja win individual titles

  [1]Toyota Gazoo Racing WRTen.wikipedia.org

  Toyota's Tänak and Järveoja won the drivers' and co-drivers' championships.

• 2018

  First manufacturers' championship since the comeback

  [1]Toyota Gazoo Racing WRTen.wikipedia.org

  Toyota won the WRC manufacturers' title, with Tänak taking four victories and Latvala adding one.

• 2017

  Competitive debut with the Toyota Yaris WRC

  [1]Toyota Gazoo Racing WRTen.wikipedia.org

  The team returned to the WRC, won Rally Sweden and Rally Finland, and finished third in the manufacturers' standings.

• 2015

  Toyota announces its WRC return

  [1]Toyota Gazoo Racing WRTen.wikipedia.org

  Toyota announced a factory return for the 2017 championship and assigned Tommi Mäkinen responsibility for the Finland-based project later that year.

Showing the 10 most recent.

A factory-backed, engineering-led rally organization that uses elite WRC competition to develop Toyota performance technology, promote the Gazoo Racing identity and cultivate drivers for international rallying.

• World Rally Car · 2017

  Toyota Yaris WRC

  The Yaris WRC was Toyota's first factory WRC car of the modern comeback period. Developed for the regulations introduced in 2017, it powered the team's return to the championship and delivered early victories at Rally Sweden and Rally Finland. Its performance formed the foundation for Toyota's 2018 manufacturers' championship.

• Rally1 competition car · 2022

  Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Hybrid

  Introduced for the 2022 Rally1 regulations, the GR Yaris Rally1 Hybrid combines a tubular spaceframe chassis with hybrid power. It replaced the Yaris WRC and carried Toyota to successive manufacturers' titles while Rovanperä and Halttunen won the drivers' and co-drivers' championships.

• Customer and support-category rally car · 2024

  Toyota GR Yaris Rally2

  The GR Yaris Rally2 is Toyota's Rally2-specification car, developed at the team's Finnish headquarters for customer and support-category competition. It made its WRC2 debut in 2024, won in Portugal and helped Sami Pajari and Enni Mälkonen secure the WRC2 drivers' championship.

• Driver development program · 2015

  TGR WRC Challenge Program

  The TGR WRC Challenge Program identifies and develops drivers and co-drivers through Finnish and European rally competition. It has supported several generations of Japanese talent and produced Takamoto Katsuta, its first graduate to reach Toyota's principal WRC team.

• 2024GR Yaris Rally2 customer-racing program

  Europe · World Rally Championship support categories

  Toyota expanded its rally presence beyond the factory Rally1 program with the GR Yaris Rally2, supporting customer and WRC2 competition.

  Outcome. The car achieved a WRC2 victory in Portugal and supported a WRC2 drivers' championship.

  Source
• 2022GR Yaris Rally1 Hybrid launch

  Global WRC calendar

  Toyota introduced its hybrid Rally1 car as the WRC moved to a new technical era, linking the competition program with the GR performance-car identity.

  Outcome. Toyota won the manufacturers' championship, while Rovanperä and Halttunen won the individual titles.

  Source
• 2017Toyota's WRC comeback

  Global WRC calendar

  Toyota used the Yaris WRC's return to international competition to re-establish the Toyota Gazoo Racing identity in rallying after an eighteen-year absence.

  Outcome. The team won two rallies and finished third in the manufacturers' championship.

  Source
• 2015TGR WRC Challenge Program

  Finland · Europe · Japan

  Toyota established a structured pathway for identifying and training young Japanese rally talent in European competition.

  Outcome. Takamoto Katsuta became the program's first graduate to compete for Toyota's principal WRC team.

  Source

• 2025

  Toyota expands the Rally1 driver-development pathwayStrategy

  Background

  Sami Pajari won the WRC2 championship before the 2025 season, while Rovanperä elected to return to full-time competition.

  Action taken

  Toyota promoted Pajari to a Rally1 car under the WRT2 entry and restored Rovanperä to a full-time program.

  Aftermath

  The structure gave Toyota a wider pipeline from Rally2 competition into its Rally1 factory operation.

  Source

• 2024

  Toyota launches the GR Yaris Rally2 in competitionProduct launch

  Background

  Toyota sought a broader presence in rallying through a car eligible for customer and WRC2 competition.

  Action taken

  The team introduced the GR Yaris Rally2, developed at its Finnish headquarters.

  Aftermath

  The car won in WRC2 and contributed to a WRC2 drivers' championship.

  Source

• 2022

  Toyota changes to the GR Yaris Rally1 HybridGeneration change

  Background

  The WRC introduced Rally1 rules requiring hybrid power and tubular spaceframe chassis.

  Action taken

  Toyota replaced the Yaris WRC with the GR Yaris Rally1 Hybrid.

  Aftermath

  The new car won the manufacturers' championship and delivered the drivers' title to Rovanperä.

  Source

• 2021

  Jari-Matti Latvala appointed team principalOther

  Background

  Mäkinen left the team principal role after Toyota acquired the operating assets of Tommi Mäkinen Racing.

  Action taken

  Toyota promoted former factory driver Jari-Matti Latvala to lead the WRC team.

  Aftermath

  Toyota won both principal championships in Latvala's first season as team principal.

  Source

• 2020

  Toyota acquires Tommi Mäkinen Racing's team assetsM&A

  Background

  Toyota sought to bring the factory WRC operation directly under its corporate motorsport structure.

  Action taken

  Toyota purchased the team's operational assets and changed Mäkinen's role to motorsport adviser.

  Aftermath

  Jari-Matti Latvala became team principal and the operation later consolidated its facilities in Jyväskylä.

  Source

• 2015

  Toyota commits to a 2017 WRC returnStrategy

  Background

  Toyota had been absent from the WRC since the end of the 1999 season after shifting attention toward Formula One.

  Action taken

  The company announced a factory return for 2017 and created a new Yaris WRC development program.

  Aftermath

  The project produced a competitive debut in 2017 and Toyota's first post-comeback manufacturers' title in 2018.

  Source

• 2015

  Tommi Mäkinen takes over the WRC projectStrategy

  Background

  Toyota initially assigned development to Toyota Motorsport GmbH before changing the structure of the program.

  Action taken

  Akio Toyoda transferred project responsibility to Tommi Mäkinen, who based the team in Finland and restarted development around new regulations.

  Aftermath

  The Finland-based team became the operational foundation of Toyota's modern WRC program.

  Source

• 2025

  Kalle Rovanperä returns to a full-time WRC program[1]Toyota Gazoo Racing WRTen.wikipedia.org

  Leadership change · Other

  Rovanperä resumed full-time competition for Toyota, while Sami Pajari moved from the WRC2 program into a Rally1 car entered through Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT2.

• 2024

  Toyota wins the 2024 manufacturers' championship by three points[1]Toyota Gazoo Racing WRTen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Toyota secured the manufacturers' championship at Rally Japan despite Hyundai taking the drivers' title.

• 2024

  GR Yaris Rally2 makes its WRC2 competition debut[1]Toyota Gazoo Racing WRTen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch · Product generation

  Toyota's GR Yaris Rally2 entered competition and achieved a WRC2 victory in Portugal, later supporting Sami Pajari's WRC2 championship campaign.

• 2023

  Toyota secures a third consecutive manufacturers' title[1]Toyota Gazoo Racing WRTen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Toyota won the manufacturers' championship for the third consecutive season, while Rovanperä and Halttunen defended their drivers' and co-drivers' titles.

• 2022

  GR Yaris Rally1 Hybrid enters the new Rally1 era[1]Toyota Gazoo Racing WRTen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch · Product generation

  Toyota introduced the hybrid-powered GR Yaris Rally1 under new WRC technical regulations. Kalle Rovanperä won the drivers' title and Toyota retained the manufacturers' crown.

• 2021

  Toyota completes a drivers' and manufacturers' championship double[1]Toyota Gazoo Racing WRTen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Toyota won both principal WRC championships, with Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia taking the individual titles and the team winning nine of twelve rallies.

• 2020

  Toyota acquires Tommi Mäkinen Racing assets[1]Toyota Gazoo Racing WRTen.wikipedia.org

  M&A · Leadership change

  Toyota acquired the team's operational assets from Tommi Mäkinen Racing, with Mäkinen moving into an advisory role.

• 2019

  Ott Tänak and Martin Järveoja win the 2019 drivers' and co-drivers' titles[1]Toyota Gazoo Racing WRTen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Toyota's Tänak and Järveoja won the individual WRC championships, while Toyota finished second in the manufacturers' standings.

• 2018

  Toyota wins the 2018 manufacturers' championship[1]Toyota Gazoo Racing WRTen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Toyota secured its first WRC manufacturers' title since 1999 after a successful season led by Ott Tänak and Jari-Matti Latvala.

• 2017

  Toyota returns to the World Rally Championship[1]Toyota Gazoo Racing WRTen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  Toyota entered the WRC again with the Yaris WRC after an eighteen-year absence. The team scored an early podium and won Rally Sweden during its debut season.

1. 1Toyota Gazoo Racing WRTen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Toyota Gazoo Racing WRC official websitetoyotagazooracing.com