Sports · Motorsport · 1 hr ago
Oliver Solberg to drive Toyota’s revived Celica in 2027 WRC
Toyota will bring the Celica back to the World Rally Championship in 2027, and Oliver Solberg is one of its drivers.
The Swedish driver, along with Elfyn Evans and Sami Pajari, will race the new GR Celica Rally1 under the Toyota Racing name.
Toyota plans a six-car effort split between two teams, with the Celica and GR Yaris models sharing the same underlying parts.
The Celica has a long history in rallying, including Toyota manufacturers’ titles in 1993 and 1994 and drivers’ titles in 1990, 1992, 1993 and 1994.
Solberg came close to winning this year’s title, but went off the road near the end of the final stage in Sardinia.
He says the loss still hurts, though he is proud of his first Rally1 season.
The new Celica lineup is due to compete in 2027, where its drivers will face Toyota’s GR Yaris team as well as other WRC competitors.
Toyota plans to revive the Celica name in the World Rally Championship in 2027, with a factory GR Celica Rally1 car.
Oliver Solberg, Elfyn Evans and Sami Pajari are set to drive the Celica under the Toyota Racing moniker.
Toyota will split its expanded six-car WRC effort between two teams, with the Celica and GR Yaris identical beneath their body shells.
The GR Yaris will be driven by Ott Tanak, Kalle Rovanpera and Takamoto Katsuta.
Solberg called the revival “awesome” and said he was ready to move on from his near-miss in this year’s title fight.
- Who
- Toyota plans to bring back the Celica in the WRC, with Oliver Solberg, Elfyn Evans and Sami Pajari named as its drivers.
- What
- Toyota will field a factory GR Celica Rally1 car alongside a GR Yaris in a six-car, two-team effort.
- When
- 2027.
- Where
- The World Rally Championship.
- Why
- Toyota said it plans to revive the iconic Celica brand; Solberg described the move as a way to bring a historic legacy into the championship.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Carlos Sainz won drivers’ titles in the Celica.
Toyota won back-to-back manufacturers’ crowns, and Juha Kankkunen and Didier Auriol won drivers’ championships.
Toyota announced plans to revive the Celica brand for its WRC effort.
Motorsport.com and Autosport published reports on the 2027 Celica revival and Oliver Solberg’s reaction.
Toyota plans to field the GR Celica Rally1 car in the WRC.
- Celica drivers
- Oliver Solberg, Elfyn Evans and Sami Pajari
- GR Yaris drivers
- Ott Tanak, Kalle Rovanpera and Takamoto Katsuta
- Toyota’s WRC effort
- Six cars across two teams
- Celica model
- Factory Toyota GR Celica Rally1
- Celica’s historic drivers’ titles
- Carlos Sainz in 1990 and 1992; Juha Kankkunen in 1993; Didier Auriol in 1994
3 sources
What people are saying
It's awesome. I think it's a cool angle. It's a different way of doing it, which I think is unique for any sport.
It's going to be a crazy rivalry between all the drivers, some part time and some full time. But I think the rivalry is going to be crazy and really fun.