WRC 2027: Toyota confirms Rovanperä and Tänak, Celica and Yaris

On 3 November 2026, Toyota revealed its plans for the 2027 World Rally Championship (WRC). The Japanese manufacturer is presenting two teams and two different cars, with two long-awaited returns: Kalle Rovanperä and Ott Tänak. The announcement was made in Jyväskylä, Finland, at the headquarters of Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team, after a groundbreaking ceremony for a new technical centre in Majajärvi on 2 November.

Two teams, two cars in the 2027 WRC

Both squads are run from the same Finnish base, but each has its own car, both built for the new WRC27 regulations:

• Toyota Racing: the new GR Celica Rally1, making its debut. Drivers: Elfyn Evans, Oliver Solberg and Sami Pajari.
• Gazoo Racing Toyota: the 2027-spec GR Yaris Rally1. Drivers: Takamoto Katsuta, Ott Tänak and Kalle Rovanperä.

According to Rallye-Magazin, the two cars have the same level of power and performance. Toyota plans up to six works cars on WRC rounds, and both models are due to be homologated by the end of 2026. Full technical details and final designs will be presented before the season starts.

Rovanperä and Tänak return

Kalle Rovanperä, world champion in 2022 and 2023, returns after a year's break, for a partial season only. Ott Tänak, who won the 2019 title with Toyota, spent 2026 in a role developing the new car. It will be his first competitive season with Toyota since he left the team as champion at the end of 2019.

Rovanperä's partial programme leaves seats open in the Yaris. Toyota does not rule out additional entries, including young drivers from the GR WRC Challenge programme.

Evans, Solberg, Pajari: the Celica trio

Elfyn Evans is the reigning world champion: he took the 2026 title five points ahead of Solberg and six ahead of Pajari. Oliver Solberg won three rounds this year and fought for the title until the final stage in Sardinia. Sami Pajari also won three rounds and finished third in the championship. According to DirtFish, these three drivers, like Katsuta, are planned for the full season.

On the Yaris side, Takamoto Katsuta scored his first two WRC wins in 2026, in Kenya and Croatia.

What about Sébastien Ogier?

The nine-time world champion is not among the six drivers. He will miss Rallye Monte-Carlo, the season opener, and his plans beyond that are not settled. According to DirtFish, if he competes in 2027 he will do so for Gazoo Racing, in Rovanperä's car. Toyota says Rovanperä's partial season leaves room for occasional appearances by Ogier and by young drivers.

A dominant manufacturer

According to DirtFish, Toyota has won the last six manufacturers' titles, from 2021 to 2026. With new regulations in 2027, the manufacturer has chosen to field two distinct cars from the start.

Key takeaways

• Toyota presents two teams and two cars for the 2027 WRC: GR Celica Rally1 and GR Yaris Rally1.
• Rovanperä (partial season) and Tänak return; Evans, Solberg, Pajari and Katsuta are confirmed.
• Both cars are due to be homologated by the end of 2026.
• Ogier's role in 2027 remains to be clarified.