Toyota Announces Major WRC 2027 Commitment – Two Teams, Two Cars and Six Drivers

As the World Rally Championship enters a new era with new technical regulations in 2027, Toyota is expanding its commitment to the sport. On Tuesday, the manufacturer announced two separate factory teams that will compete on equal terms, with the ambition of fielding up to six factory cars at each WRC round.

One team, Toyota Racing, will compete with the all-new GR Celica Rally1, while Gazoo Racing Toyota will continue with a newly developed version of the GR Yaris Rally1.

Both cars are being developed under the new technical regulations and will offer comparable power and performance. Operations will continue to be based at Toyota’s facility in Jyväskylä, Finland.

Oliver Solberg Continues with Toyota

For Swedish rally fans, the news that Oliver Solberg will continue his career with Toyota is a welcome announcement.

Following an impressive first full season as a factory driver at the highest level, during which he and co-driver Elliott Edmondson claimed three victories and finished runners-up in the championship, the Swede has now been entrusted with helping develop the new GR Celica Rally1.

“I’ve had an incredible first full year with the team. It has been a season of amazing highs and some difficult moments, but we have learned so much, and to be fighting for the world championship title right until the end was something special. Being a Toyota driver is a dream for me, and it’s incredibly exciting to enter this new era together and be involved in developing a completely new car,” says Oliver Solberg.

At Toyota Racing, Solberg will be joined by reigning World Champion Elfyn Evans and Finland’s Sami Pajari, who finished third in this year’s championship after claiming three victories.

Two World Champions Return

The second team, Gazoo Racing Toyota, will feature two familiar names making their return to the World Rally Championship.

Ott Tänak returns to the manufacturer with which he and co-driver Martin Järveoja won the World Championship title in 2019. The Estonian duo have been involved in the development of Toyota’s new rally car throughout 2026 and are now ready to return to the stages.

“It is an honour to be back with Gazoo Racing Toyota and the team with which Martin and I became world champions. We have some fantastic memories from our previous time here, and I have great respect for the people and what they have achieved. I’ve enjoyed my time away from competition, but the desire to drive has remained strong. I’m looking forward to getting back on the stages and fighting for good results together with the team,” says Ott Tänak.

Two-time World Champion Kalle Rovanperä is also returning after a year away from the World Rally Championship. The Finn will compete in a limited programme of selected events in 2027 alongside co-driver Jonne Halttunen.

“I’m really happy to have the opportunity to compete in rallying with Gazoo Racing Toyota and Jonne again next year. The team has always felt like a family to me, and in a way, I never really felt that I had left. Rallying has been such a big part of my life, and after a while, I naturally started to miss driving. It will be an exciting challenge to return with the new cars,” says Kalle Rovanperä.

Takamoto Katsuta will also continue with Gazoo Racing Toyota, having claimed his first WRC victories in Kenya and Croatia during 2026.

Toyota Returns as Reigning Rally Sweden Winner

Toyota has been a dominant force at Rally Sweden in recent years and heads into 2027 as the reigning winner of the event.

Elfyn Evans has won Rally Sweden in each of the past two years, 2025 and 2026, and with three victories to his name, has established himself as one of the leading drivers on Sweden’s winter stages.

Returning World Champions Ott Tänak and Kalle Rovanperä have also previously won Rally Sweden. Tänak claimed his first victory at the event in 2019, while Rovanperä took the win in 2022.

With three former Rally Sweden winners in the line-up, a Swedish World Championship runner-up and a completely new generation of rally cars, there is plenty to look forward to ahead of next year’s event in Umeå.

“Toyota’s commitment really demonstrates the dedication and confidence in the future of the World Rally Championship. The fact that one of the sport’s leading manufacturers is investing in two different cars, two teams and such a strong driver line-up is extremely positive for the championship. For us at Rally Sweden, it is of course particularly exciting to see Oliver Solberg continuing with Toyota, while we also look forward to welcoming a new generation of rally cars to Umeå,” says Anna Nordkvist, CEO of Rally Sweden.

A New Era for the WRC in 2027

Toyota’s expanded commitment is part of the wider transformation awaiting the World Rally Championship next season.

The new technical regulations have been developed to reduce costs and make the championship’s top category more accessible to additional manufacturers and constructors.

Toyota is currently conducting extensive testing of its new cars and expects the homologation process to be completed before the end of the year. Further details about the cars and their appearance will be announced ahead of the season opener.

Rally Sweden takes place on 18–21 February 2027 in Umeå and Västerbotten, which will once again host the only true winter rally on the WRC calendar.