In the early 1990s, a battle of epic proportions was waged between the Japanese greats on the most dangerous roads imaginable. The World Rally Championship (WRC) was more often than not fought by Subaru, Mitsubishi and Toyota with all of those companies earning accolades and bragging rights. But something in the early 2000s caused a change and the Japanese giants one by one, pulled out of WRC. Fast forward to today however, and manufactures from around the globe have been putting more and more effort into the extremely demanding motorsport. With the competition getting closer to becoming as heavy as it was more than a decade ago, Toyota may throw their hat in once again.
According to a Car and Driver article, a Toyota representative told the WRC that at class S2000 entry is in the works. By the class rules, all S2000 cars can not be motivated by an engine larger than 2.0 liters. More than likely, the Toyota rally car will be powered by a turbocharged 1.6 liter inline four cylinder and will be based on the subcompact Yaris hatchback. No Celica ST205 by any means, a new WRC Toyota should still be a force to be reckoned with. Per S2000 regulations, entrants can be equipped with all wheel drive and sequential gearboxes and is currently filled with Volkswagen Polo Rs, Ford Fiesta RSs and Mini John Cooper Works WRC cars. If Toyota does go through with this, a fully working and battle ready Yaris WRC would show its face sometime in 2013.
Source: Car and Driver Magazine
