How Toyota Split Its Drivers Across Two WRC Factory Teams

"We made the decision internally without consulting the drivers themselves," Latvala said. "The logic was clear: Ott Tänak won the 2019 title with the Yaris. Kalle Rovanperä is a two-time champion with the same car, so it felt most natural for them to be in that squad."

"On the other hand, we wanted to bank on the younger generation for the comeback of the iconic Celica. That's why we placed young talents Oliver and Sami in the Celica alongside the new world champion, Elfyn. As for Taka, we decided to keep him in the familiar Yaris alongside his good friends Tänak and Rovanperä."

"Under the skin, the cars are completely identical," Latvala explained. "The Celica might hold a slight aerodynamic edge on high-speed stages, while the Yaris could perform marginally better on tight, technical sections. Over the course of the season, it will balance out, and there won't be any fundamental difference in overall pace."

"When we first mapped out two teams, we were hoping for a higher number of full-fledged manufacturers in 2027. Our goal was never just total domination, but creating compelling storylines. Right now, we see plenty of cars and entries, but few committed to the entire calendar. We view next year as a transition into 2028, when the championship should truly hit its stride. Regardless, we have five drivers capable of fighting for the crown next season, so thrilling battles are guaranteed."

"It is entirely possible that we will appoint two separate team principals to spark additional internal rivalry," Latvala noted. "We are still fine-tuning the structure. All six cars will be lined up together—likely the three Celicas followed by the three Yarises. Up until now, I served as team principal with Juha Kankkunen acting as deputy. There is a scenario where we each take charge of a different team, though no final decision has been made yet."