Toyota to Debut GR Corolla Rally Car as Second Manufacturer Team in ARA’s 2026 Season
I will never forget my first rally race, partly because nearly half the competitors were Subarus. Anytime a different make or model flew by, usually in the 2WD class, it felt like an event.
From small local teams to top national entries, Subaru dominates the American Rally Association. Until now, Subaru America has had the only manufacturer-backed team in the series (with “Vermont SportsCar” as its technical partner).
After that race, I spent time talking with drivers and longtime rally fans. I asked what other cars could realistically compete. The answer came quickly. “Ford Fiestas and the GR Toyota Corolla. Man, an AWD GR Corolla would be fast.”
It’s almost as if Toyota was listening. The automaker announced it will develop a GR Corolla RC2 rally car and enter one or two of them in the 2026 ARA season. This makes it the second manufacturer-backed team in the ARA.
“TGR will enter the American Rally Association (ARA) National Championship for the first time with a rally car based on the GR Corolla, taking on the challenge of making ever-better motorsports-bred cars on American roads.” — Toyota Gazoo Racing
Why Toyota chose the GR Corolla for ARA
The AWD GR Corolla, powered by a 300-horsepower turbocharged three-cylinder engine, should be a legitimate contender. Toyota did have an easier option. The company already campaigns a GR Yaris Rally2 car in other global series.
So why not use that platform? Because the mission of a manufacturer-backed team is simple: win on Sunday, sell on Monday.
“By developing a GR Corolla rally car, TGR-WRT is harnessing the pedigree of the Corolla model within rallying and further expanding its efforts to use motorsport to help make ever-better cars for the road,” Toyota said. “It also hopes to support the development of rallying in North America, where the GR Corolla is available as a rally-bred performance car for the road.”
Toyota’s new ARA effort will debut at the 100 Acre Wood Rally in March 2026. The team’s co-driver will be Finnish rally veteran Topi Luhtinen. Seth Quintero, fresh off driving the DKR GR Hilux at Dakar, will pilot the car. Something tells me Toyota Gazoo Racing will fit right in.
