Press Release dated: 4th January 2024.
Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team (TGR-WRT) are pleased to confirm that the GR Yaris Rally2 has been granted homologation by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), from January 1, 2024.
The GR Yaris Rally2 has been developed for customer rallying and is now set for official competition, beginning with the famous Rallye Monte-Carlo later this month.
Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) have up to now been participating in the FIA World Rally Championship [WRC] with the GR Yaris Rally1 hybrid, the FIA World Endurance Championship [WEC] with the GR010 hybrid and the FIA World Rally Raid Championship [W2RC] with the DKR Hilux EVO T1U as works motorsport activities with multi-championship title-winning success. They have also developed the GR Supra GT4 to promote the making of ever-better cars through customer motorsports activity.
Chairman Akio Toyoda (also known as ‘Morizo’) hopes the new car will mark the first step in building a bridge between motorsport vehicles and production vehicles through rally competition – something that could contribute to enhancing the rally market worldwide.
With the granting of the homologation certificate, distribution of the GR Yaris Rally2 can now begin to customers worldwide. A commemorative first car is scheduled to be delivered to ROOKIE Racing, led by Morizo, while four teams are set to race with the new model in the WRC2 class at Rallye Monte-Carlo, taking place from 25-28 January.
The first all-wheel drive sports car to be developed exclusively by Toyota for 20 years, GR Yaris was created by TGR with a mission to win in the WRC; GR Yaris Rally2 is a car made for customers to win and marks the start of a new challenge for TGR.
The car made its public debut at Rally Japan in 2022 with Morizo at the wheel. Since then, it has been tested by many different drivers on different surfaces and in different conditions. More than 15,000 competition kilometres have also been covered, including participation in the Japanese Rally Championship.
The development process has incorporated feedback from experienced and up-and-coming professional drivers alike. Further intelligence will be gathered from customer motorsport competitors in series such as WRC2, helping to develop an ever-better car.
GR Yaris Rally2 technical specifications
| Engine | Type | Turbocharged in-line three-cylinder |
| Displacement (cc) | 1,618.2 | |
| Bore x stroke (mm) | 87.5 x 89.7 | |
| Air restrictor (mm) | 32 (FIA regulation) | |
| Transmission | Type | 5-speed sequential |
| Drivetrain | All-wheel drive with motorsport-specification limited-slip differential | |
| Suspension | Front/rear | MacPherson strut |
| Brakes | Diameter (mm) | 300 – gravel 350 or 300 Tarmac |
| Dimensions | Length (mm) | 3,995 |
| Width (mm) | 1,820 | |
| Height | Adjustable | |
| Weight (kg) | 1,230 (with spare tyre, FIA regulation) |
