It looks like Toyota wants to build a World Rally Championship-spec car based on the Yaris supermini, though it’s not yet clear what they are going to do with it: actually race it or just use it as a test bed.
Toyota has its fair share of memorable WRC moments under its belt, though in recent years they have been all-but absent from the sport in any kind of official manner. Only now have things started to change, thanks to the different new driving philosophy behind the company, which also shows in its road cars.
According to an Autocar magazine report, development work will most likely be carried out by TMG in Germany, the same people who converted the GT86 for ralying too.
Currently, information doesn’t extend too far past it getting a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine (with 300 hp), as the rules dictate anyway, so aside from the rumor, we currently don’t really have anything to go by. In other words, this is by no means a confirmation of their reentry into the rallying world’s top class.
Note: S2000-class Yaris Rally Trophy that races in South Africa pictured
By Andrei Nedelea
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