The FIA World Rally Championship is one of the most thrilling races in motorsport. After a successful 2021, WRC is now heading to a new season during which it's set to debut new rally cars called Group Rally1. Adhering to such changes, Toyota will also shift cars from the already legendary Yaris WRC to the all-new GR Yaris Rally1.
Group Rally1: A New Era Of Top International Rallying
Toyota’s new GR Yaris Rally1 will have a large track to follow, as its predecessor was a heavily successful rally car that won the WRC crown three years in a row from 2019 to 2021. Toyota is keen on continuing the legacy left by the Yaris WRC with the GR Yaris Rally1, which would compete in the new top category of international rallying Group Rally1.
All Rally1 cars boast significant changes over their predecessors, including the use of hybrid technology. Each Rally1 car should feature a hybrid unit that employs a 3.9-kWh battery and a motor-generator unit (MGU) providing an extra 134 hp under acceleration.
The GR Yaris Rally1 matched this hybrid unit to the proven 1.6-liter turbocharged engine from the Yaris WRC. Overall, the GR Yaris Rally1 delivers more than 493 hp of output, with the engine running on a 100% sustainable fuel.
Four Crews, Four GR Yaris Rally1 Cars
Toyota built the GR Yaris Rally1 around a dedicated spaceframe chassis, resulting in increased safety for drivers and co-drivers. WRC regulations now focus on the skills of the drivers, thus required the GR Yaris Rally1 to feature less complex aerodynamics, a mechanical gearshift, and remove its active center differential.
A total of four GR Yaris Rally1 cars will compete in the 2022 season of the WRC. These include one for the reigning champion and WRC legend Sébastien Ogier and co-driver Benjamin Veillas. 2021 season second placer Elfyn Evans and co-driver Scott Martin will drive the second GR Yaris Rally1, while fourth-placer Kalle Rovanperä and co-driver Jonne Halttunen will pilot the third car.
Takamoto Katsuta and co-driver Aaron Johnston of the newly created team Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team Next Generation will maneuver the fourth GR Yaris Rally1.
GR Yaris Rally1 To Debut At Rallye Monte-Carlo
The new GR Yaris Rally1 will make its debut at the Rallye Monte-Carlo scheduled on January 20-23, 2022. For the last few weeks, the testing program for the GR Yaris Rally1 focused on the particular demands of Rallye Monte-Carlo. The crews have commenced reconnaissance of the stages, 85 percent of which are new compared to 2021.
Source: Toyota Gazoo Racing