Last year, Toyota was completely untouchable in the WRC. The team won 12 of the 14 rallies and secured the manufacturers’ title well before the end of the season.
In the drivers’ championship, Sébastien Ogier took the crown ahead of his two Toyota team-mates, Elfyn Evans and Kalle Rovanperä.
There is one change to Toyota’s line-up compared with last season. Rovanperä, who is switching to circuit racing, will no longer compete in the WRC, and his seat at Toyota will be taken by Oliver Solberg, who claimed a stunning victory at Rally Estonia last summer.
Toyota’s drivers Evans, Solberg, Takamoto Katsuta and Sami Pajari will all contest every WRC round in 2026. Ogier’s programme includes at least eight rallies.
Toyota once again has a line-up capable of taking every championship title ahead of Hyundai. At least that is the view of the team’s deputy team principal Juha Kankkunen.
“Even Kalle has gone, but we have these two proper pillars, ‘Seb’ and Elfyn. And I think the youngsters have shown their speed anyway,” Kankkunen said.
“Oliver won Rally Estonia and Sami was, in the end of the season, going very well. Even in Saudi Arabia, with a little bit more luck, he would probably have been top three. ‘Taka’ is still a bit up and down, but he’s fast,” the four-time world champion assessed.
Toyota can choose three drivers for manufacturers’ points at each rally. It is likely that Pajari will again contest the full season under the so-called satellite entry. Evans and Ogier will always score points for Toyota when present, while Katsuta and Solberg will alternate in the third car at events where Ogier competes.
Kankkunen is confident that Toyota will enjoy success once again.
“I trust these five guys. I mean, together they’re a strong team, and they can do really good results,” Kankkunen underlined.
The WRC season begins in three weeks with Rally Monte Carlo.
