# Toyota Revives Iconic Celica for 2027 World Rally Championship The legendary nameplate returns alongside the GR Yaris under new FIA cost-cutting regulations. - **Source:** [Observador](https://observador.pt) - **Published:** 2026-11-11 - **Topic:** [sports](https://brifing.si/c/sports) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/459eb672-573b-481b-ac3d-6ddfcf4f25bd ## Legendary Nameplate Returns Toyota is bringing the iconic Celica back to the World Rally Championship in 2027. This model, which secured four driver titles between 1990 and 1994, will compete alongside the current GR Yaris. The move marks a nostalgic yet strategic shift for the manufacturer as it navigates a new era of rally competition. ## Strategic Platform Sharing The new GR Celica and the GR Yaris will share core mechanical components to optimize development efficiency. While the vehicles differ in shape and length, maintaining consistent width and internal architecture allows Toyota to manage costs effectively. This dual-model strategy ensures competitive coverage while streamlining the engineering workload for the factory teams. ## FIA Regulatory Transition The 2027 season introduces the WRC27 regulation, a two-year transition period leading into 2029. New rules remove previous vehicle dimension limitations, allowing larger cars like the Celica to participate. These regulations aim to stabilize the championship by simplifying technical requirements and encouraging broader participation from various manufacturers during a period of low entry. ## Aggressive Cost Reduction The FIA is targeting a significant price drop for top-tier rally cars, aiming to reduce costs from 1 million euros in 2026 to 345,000 euros by 2027. By mandating Rally2-based vehicles with efficient aerodynamic kits costing 7,500 euros, the governing body hopes to attract more privateers and manufacturers to the sport's premier category. ## Hybrid Era Ends Toyota and the WRC have officially abandoned hybrid powertrains as of late 2024. These complex systems added 80 kilograms of weight and increased production costs by approximately 500,000 euros per unit. Removing the 100 kW electric motor simplifies the cars, improves reliability, and lowers the financial barrier for teams entering the championship. ## 2027 Driver Lineup Toyota Racing will field the GR Celica with drivers Elfyn Evans, Oliver Solberg, and Sami Pajari. Simultaneously, Gazoo Racing Toyota will continue with the GR Yaris, driven by Kalle Rovanperä, Ott Tänak, and Takamoto Katsuta. This diverse roster highlights Toyota’s commitment to maintaining a dominant presence across both vehicle platforms in 2027. ## Market Context and Crisis The 2027 championship faces a scarcity of manufacturers, with only four currently registered, including two non-factory entries. The Ford Fiesta Rally2 remains a key competitor in this landscape. Toyota’s decision to expand its involvement serves as a vital boost to the series, helping to sustain the grid during this challenging transition phase. ## Impact on Competition By lowering entry costs and allowing more accessible vehicle platforms, the WRC aims to level the playing field. The return of the Celica is not just a marketing triumph but a practical solution to the current crisis of participants. It enables private pilots to compete more closely with factory-backed teams in future seasons. ## Sources covering this story - https://observador.pt/2026/11/11/toyota-celica-regressa-ao-mundial-de-ralis-felizmente/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._