Back in Business
Rumors about Toyota bringing back the Celica nameplate have been floating around for quite some time. If true, the Celica, which could be called the GR Celica, might slot above the GR86, potentially with an all-wheel-drive system and a turbocharged engine.
Well, that comeback may be one step closer to becoming a reality after Toyota announced a new entry in the World Rally Championship (WRC) called the GR Celica Rally1. The GR Celica will not replace the GR Yaris Rally1, but rather run alongside it. Before anything else, though, the 2027 WRC regulations allow bespoke rally designs without requiring an equivalent road car, so this shouldn’t be treated as confirmation that the Celica will return to dealership floors anytime soon.
Toyota
A Road Car in the Making?
Still, fielding the GR Celica name on major rally stages could help Toyota build excitement around the nameplate. With some wishful thinking, perhaps that could eventually lead to a road-going version. After all, Gazoo Racing is now a standalone brand within Toyota, and expanding its portfolio could help it compete more effectively with the likes of Mercedes-AMG and BMW M.
For now, the Celica nameplate is returning to competitive rally racing following its successful run in the 1990s. The car helped Carlos Sainz win the Drivers’ Championship in 1990 and 1992, followed by Juha Kankkunen in 1993 and Didier Auriol in 1994.
At the time, the Lancia Delta Integrale was a dominant force in the sport, while the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution was beginning to make its mark before Tommi Mäkinen won four consecutive drivers’ titles from 1996 to 1999. Toyota, however, claimed the Manufacturers’ Championship in 1999 with the Corolla WRC before leaving the sport to focus on Formula 1.
Toyota
Rallying Into a New Era
For the 2027 WRC season, the new Rally1 cars, including the GR Celica, will run with sustainably fueled 1.6-liter turbocharged engines producing around 290 horsepower. The engines will be paired with four-wheel-drive systems and 5-speed sequential manual gearboxes.
The GR Celica Rally1 will be driven by Elfyn Evans, Oliver Solberg, and Sami Pajari under the Toyota Racing banner, while the GR Yaris Rally1 will be driven by Ott Tänak, Takamoto Katsuta, and Kalle Rovanperä under the Gazoo Racing Toyota banner. With homologation expected to be completed by the end of 2026, Toyota will reveal more details about both cars, including their liveries, ahead of the 2027 season.
Toyota
