Few rally cars rival the timeless allure of the Toyota Celica GT-Four adorned with the iconic Castrol livery from the 1993 WRC season. Evoking a wave of nostalgia, the new Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, courtesy of Melvyn Evans Motorsport, will proudly don the same iconic theme at the 2024 edition of the British Rally Championship, igniting excitement among fans of the series.
The debut of the new “Castrol MEM Rally Team” unfolded at the picturesque Rolls of Monmouth country estate in the UK, where the Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 shared the spotlight with its iconic grandfather, the Celica GT-Four ST185.
The updated iteration of the distinctive livery inspired by the lubricant company was crafted by Keane Design. Remaining faithful to the original, it features green and red accents against a white backdrop, albeit with a contemporary twist in the graphics.
While the athletic stance of the Celica GT-Four ST185 coupe is hard to beat, the GR Yaris Rally2 hatchback looks quite aggressive thanks to the wide fender extensions and the oversized aerodynamic enhancements.
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Photos Black Mountains Media
The Castrol MEM Rally Team will field two cars, piloted by the crews of Meirion Evans and Jonathan Jackson, as well as Chris Ingram and Alex Kihurani.
Meirion Evans, transitioning from a VW Polo to the Toyota GR Yaris, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “This opportunity is the most exciting one I’ve had in my career to date. For us as a team to be entrusted by Toyota Gazoo Racing to introduce the first Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 into the UK means a great deal, and rekindling the iconic Castrol Toyota connection and livery is truly phenomenal, not just for us but for rallying in this country.”
The GR Yaris Rally2, developed by Toyota Gazoo Racing in Finland and homologated for the WRC2 rules, has been in existence since 2022. Unlike its full-blown Rally1 counterpart, which features a hybrid setup, the Rally2 is equipped with a non-electrified version of the turbocharged 1.6-liter three-cylinder engine, paired with a five-speed sequential transmission that distributes power to all four wheels.
As for the source of inspiration, the Toyota GT-Four ST185 was driven by Carlos Sainz, Juha Kankkunen, and Didier Auriol, who won the titles in 1992, 1993, and 1994 respectively. The Group A rally car is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine mated to a six-speed Xtrac gearbox.
Thanks to the folks of Black Mountains Media for the photos