Toyota drivers welcome split into two rival WRC teams for 2027

Toyota drivers have welcomed the plan to run two separate teams in the World Rally Championship next year. Toyota will field Toyota Racing with the GR Celica Rally1 bodyshell and Gazoo Racing Toyota with the GR Yaris Rally1.

Elfyn Evans, Oliver Solberg and Sami Pajari will compete for Toyota Racing, while Ott Tänak, Kalle Rovanperä (part-time) and Takamoto Katsuta will race for Gazoo Racing Toyota. Evans said the split could produce strong competition between the two sides and described inter-team battles as normal for a Toyota driver.

Solberg said the move showed Toyota's commitment to the championship and its trust in the sport's future, adding that it put pressure on other manufacturers. None of the drivers had input into which car and team they would be assigned to.