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Former world champion Ott Tanak has stepped back into rally development, accepting a role with Toyota to help shape the maker’s all‑new car for the WRC 2027 era. After taking a break from full‑time competition — a decision he announced at Rally Japan in November — Tanak returned to the cockpit to drive Toyota’s current test prototype. His short‑term focus is on contributing seat‑time and setup input rather than committing to a permanent racing seat, bringing championship experience to the programme as engineers refine the next generation of rally machinery.
Tanak’s place in Toyota’s development programme
Toyota confirmed Tanak’s involvement following initial coverage by specialist outlets, and the Estonian’s appearance in the team’s test car reflects a deliberate push to broaden driver feedback ahead of homologation. The prototype has already logged more than 2000km across multiple surfaces — including asphalt, snow and gravel — and his inputs will be integrated with data gathered by other contributors such as Juho Hänninen and Toyota’s current rally drivers. Tanak’s role is described by the team as a testing position focused on development work, with emphasis on endurance of concepts and drivability rather than outright competition campaigns.
What Toyota is testing and why it matters
The car under evaluation is a purpose‑built prototype created to explore solutions for the new set of technical regulations that will govern the WRC from 2027. These rules introduce significant changes, including a fixed €345,000 cost cap and a closer relationship to the existing Rally2 architecture. That means the 2027 machines will share many elements with Rally2 cars, and the prototype serves as a laboratory to validate packaging, suspension geometry and system integration ahead of a final specification decision.
Key technical points
Among the headline mechanical changes is the adoption of a double wishbone suspension layout for the first time in this cycle, plus braking and steering systems that draw heavily from current Rally2 parts. Toyota engineers view the Rally2 platform as the benchmark, running back‑to‑back comparisons between the prototype and their existing GR Yaris Rally2 package to ensure the new car is at least on target. Photographs and short videos circulating on social media have shown a bodyshape that departs significantly from the present GR Yaris Rally1, prompting speculation about the eventual road‑car donor model — a matter the team has not yet confirmed.
Engineering perspective and iteration
Kevin Struyf, head of engineering at Toyota, has described the current test vehicle as a prototype or mule car used to probe the range of options permitted by the open body rules in the new regulations. Development began while some technical points were still being clarified by the FIA, so the team has been iterating layouts and components as definitions became firmer. Struyf has explained that additional chassis are already in build so the programme can move quickly toward what may become the final specification, while keeping scope to refine suspension geometry and other areas highlighted by driver feedback.
Performance takeaways and outlook
Initial comparisons indicate the prototype currently sits very close to Rally2 performance levels rather than definitively outperforming them; Struyf has emphasised that the prototype is a starting point and that drivers’ reactions have been largely positive. Toyota continues to treat its GR Yaris Rally2 as a baseline to beat, using repeated tests to validate improvements and understand trade‑offs introduced by the new dimensions and components. With Tanak adding his perspective, the team expects a steady development curve as more chassis are prepared and testing intensifies in the run‑up to the 2027 homologation window. The final choice of bodywork and the identity of any road‑car donor remain under wraps as Toyota balances technical targets, cost constraints and brand strategy.