Launched at the beginning of 2024, the Finnish-developed machine quickly proved to be highly competitive. By the end of its debut season, Sami Pajari claimed the WRC2 title behind the wheel of the Toyota.
For 2025, Oliver Solberg made the switch to Toyota and has emerged as the championship favourite. Driving a Printsport-run GR Yaris Rally2, Solberg has entered three WRC2 point-scoring events so far this season – winning two of them.
At the recent Rally Portugal, Solberg was in a class of his own. He pulled out a commanding lead on the opening day and maintained control of the rally from there, cruising to victory.
Solberg claimed victory by nearly a full minute ahead of Citroën’s Yohan Rossel and Gus Greensmith, representing Škoda. After the rally, Greensmith suggested that Solberg had benefitted from superior machinery.
“It was too easy for Oliver during the weekend. I think the only time he actually tried was probably Friday afternoon,” Greensmith said.
“Then if you look back at last year, me, Yohan and Oliver were separated by 10s halfway through Saturday. So it shows you the level at which the Toyotas at.”
Greensmith believes Škoda must find more performance in its Fabia RS Rally2 to keep up with Toyota’s pace.
“Skoda have had the best car for a very long time. So I’m sure they can get it back to where it needs to be.”
“It feels more like he’s got a McLaren, and I’m in a Red Bull now,” Greensmith joked, drawing an F1 comparison.
“So let’s try and make it a bit closer.”
Rossel currently leads the WRC2 standings by seven points over Solberg. Both drivers have entered three scoring rounds, but Solberg’s campaign was dented by a retirement at Safari Rally Kenya, where he failed to finish.
Greensmith, who has competed in two events this year, sits third in the standings.
The Briton will skip next week’s Rally Sardinia, as he’ll be celebrating his wedding in Jyväskylä, Finland in mid-June.
Read more: British WRC driver getting married in Finland – “It’s involving me, so there’ll be a big party”
