toyota

Toyota Motor Corporation is a Japanese automobile manufacturer founded in 1937 and headquartered in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture. Globally recognized for its wide range of vehicles and its reputation for reliability, Toyota has also been one of the most important manufacturers in rallying, with a legacy that spans from the late 1960s to the modern World Rally Championship (WRC) hybrid era.
Toyota’s first steps in rallying came in the 1960s with the Toyota Corona and later the Corolla, which entered international rallies such as the East African Safari Rally. In 1973, Toyota scored its first major success when Joginder Singh won the Safari Rally in a Corolla, a result that underlined the brand’s toughness on rough terrain. The Safari Rally soon became Toyota’s “home” event, where its cars repeatedly excelled thanks to their durability.
The 1980s marked Toyota’s rise on the world stage with the Toyota Celica Twin-Cam Turbo (Group B) and, after the ban of Group B, the Celica GT-Four (ST165, ST185, ST205) in Group A. With the backing of Toyota Team Europe (TTE) led by Ove Andersson, the Celica became a powerhouse. The ST185, driven by Carlos Sainz, Juha Kankkunen, and Didier Auriol, brought Toyota three consecutive manufacturers’ titles (1993, 1994, 1995) and made the brand the first Japanese manufacturer to dominate the WRC. Sainz also delivered Toyota’s first drivers’ title in 1990.
The 1990s cemented Toyota’s place at the top. The Celica GT-Four ST185 and ST205 won iconic events such as the Monte Carlo Rally, the Safari Rally, and the Tour de Corse. Drivers like Carlos Sainz, Juha Kankkunen, and Didier Auriol became legends under the Toyota banner. However, in 1995, Toyota faced a major scandal when the FIA discovered an illegal turbo restrictor system in the ST205; the team was banned for a year, though its reputation remained strong thanks to its prior achievements.
In the late 1990s, Toyota introduced the Corolla WRC, which secured the 1999 Manufacturers’ Championship with Sainz and Auriol, marking the end of an era before Toyota withdrew from rallying in 1999 to focus on Formula 1.
Toyota returned to the WRC in 2017 with the Toyota Yaris WRC, developed by Toyota Gazoo Racing under Tommi Mäkinen’s leadership. The comeback was spectacular: Toyota won the 2018 Manufacturers’ Championship and, with Ott Tänak, took the 2019 Drivers’ Championship. Under the new hybrid Rally1 regulations introduced in 2022, the Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 continued the success story, dominating the WRC with titles for Kalle Rovanperä (Drivers’ Champion in 2022 and 2023) and multiple manufacturers’ crowns.
Overall, Toyota’s rallying history is defined by durability in Africa, dominance in the Group A era, a victorious comeback in the 2010s, and current supremacy in the hybrid Rally1 era. The Celica GT-Four and the modern GR Yaris stand as symbols of Toyota’s rally heritage, making it one of the most successful manufacturers in the history of the sport.