MOTORSPORT: Toyota GR Yaris goes hybrid

Toyota has pulled the drapes off its Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 WRC car ahead of its debut later this week at the Monte Carlo rally.

Replacing the victorious Toyota Yaris WRC that won the 2021 manufacturers', drivers' and co-drivers' championship, the new GR Yaris Rally1 has been designed and engineered to conform to the top-flight rally series' latest regulations.

Like the recently revealed Hyundai i20 N Rally1 contender and the Ford M-Sport Puma, the Toyota rally weapon blends a small 3.9kWh battery and a 100kW electric motor with the previous race car's 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder.

Total power now peaks at around 375kW – a significant step up on 284kW of the last generation rally car.

Built around an all-new space-frame chassis that offers greater protection, some of the new 2022 regs for the WRC car include a reduced aero package and an all-wheel drive system that has lost its active centre differential.

Toyota says it will field four GR Yaris Rally1 cars, with the nine-times WRC title-winner and reigning champion Sebastien Ogier piloting car number 1 with new co-driver Benjamin Veillas.

This year Ogier is not defending his championship as he will only compete in selected WRC rounds, but will be present at the famous Monte Carlo rally on January 20.

Building the anticipation for the 2022 season is the return of fellow French WRC legend Sebastien Loeb, who will compete in a part-time drive in the Ford Puma Hybrid Rally1 racer.

Commenting on the new season, Toyota's WRC team boss Jari-Matti Latvala said: "Rallying is entering a very new era and it's a very exciting moment. There are a lot of question marks and Rallye Monte-Carlo will be giving us some of the answers."