Jari-Matti Latvala explains the reasoning behind Toyota’s two-team structure for 2027, revealing how the drivers were allocated between the GR Celica and GR Yaris line-ups based on their past achievements and championship titles.
Toyota is preparing to approach the 2027 World Rally Championship season with an expanded programme and a revised team structure, as the introduction of the new WRC27 regulations offers the Japanese manufacturer an opportunity to strengthen its position at the top of the sport. Rather than simply replacing its current Rally1 car, Toyota has developed a broader strategy that combines two different models, an expanded driver line-up and a renewed connection with its rallying heritage.
The introduction of the WRC27 regulations has played a major role in shaping Toyota’s plans. With the new cars expected to be significantly less expensive than the current Rally1 machinery, the manufacturer sees an opportunity to increase its involvement without requiring a substantially larger budget. Toyota team principal Jari-Matti Latvala explained that the cost reduction would allow the team to run more cars while maintaining a financial commitment similar to that of the 2026 season.
This approach will result in Toyota operating two separate factory teams from 2027. The first will compete with the GR Celica Rally1, marking the return of one of the most recognisable names in the manufacturer's rallying history, while the second will continue with the GR Yaris Rally1. Both programmes will operate under the same technical regulations and will be managed by Toyota's existing WRC organisation.
The decision to bring back the Celica name is also part of Toyota's effort to strengthen its relationship with fans. The model has a significant history in rallying, particularly during the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, when it became one of the most successful cars in the championship. Its three drivers' titles during the 1990s remain an important part of Toyota's motorsport heritage, making its return a meaningful step as the WRC enters a new technical era.
Beyond the cars themselves, Toyota's strategy also involves creating two distinct driver groups. The manufacturer has taken into account the drivers' previous achievements, their history with Toyota and the opportunity to combine established experience with younger talent. Ott Tänak, who won the 2019 world championship with the Yaris WRC, will join the GR Yaris team, alongside Kalle Rovanperä, a two-time world champion with the same model, and Takamoto Katsuta.
The GR Celica line-up will feature Elfyn Evans, Oliver Solberg and Sami Pajari. Toyota wants to combine Evans' experience and consistency with the potential of its younger drivers, giving them the opportunity to develop within a factory environment while competing alongside an established championship contender. The allocation of the drivers reflects a deliberate attempt to give each programme its own identity rather than simply dividing the available seats between two teams.
"First of all the new regulation has a nice aspect in that the cars are less expensive than the previous generation so the cost reduction will help you to run more cars with the same budget as 2026", Latvala said.
"We're thinking about the budget, so we thought to add more cars because we have the budget to run it.
"The second thing, we wanted to improve the fan engagement with the drivers and teams and the cars.
"If you think about the Celica and its story from the seventies, eighties, and nineties, and winning three titles in the nineties and how iconic a model it was.
"I think for Toyota’s history it is very important.
"I think it is a great idea for the fans".
Finally, Latvala stated how Toyota decided to split its drivers into two teams: "In that sense it was quite easy to decide because when Ott won his championship he was in a Yaris so he goes into the Yaris team.
"Kalle had won two titles in the Yaris so he went into that team with Taka.
"We wanted to put the new young generation in the new car plus the current champion in Elfyn, so that was how it was done".
Photo Credits: Toyota
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