Toyota is targeting a successful start to the 2024 FIA World Rally Championship at the famous Rallye Monte-Carlo on 25-28 January. The Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team enters WRC 2024 with strong ambitions, having won the hat-trick of manufacturers’, drivers’ and co-drivers’ titles in each of the past three years.
Two versions of the rally-prepared GR Yaris will make their debut this season. First, the existing top-level GR Yaris Rally1 Hybrid has been modified to make it even stronger: the engine has been updated to further improve low-speed response, and the torque curve has been improved. Second, the recently homologated GR Yaris Rally2 car will be competing in the WRC2 support championship. Both cars feature a dramatically different look thanks to their new matt black livery.
WRC 2024: new points system
This year sees the introduction of a revised points system, the purpose of which is to enhance the sense of jeopardy on the final day. A sliding scale of points – 18, 15, 13, 10, 8, 6, 4, 3, 2, 1 – will now be allocated based on positions at the end of Saturday, but these will only be awarded to crews that finish the rally on Sunday. A separate classification will combine all of Sunday’s stages and award points on a 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 scale. The rally-ending Power Stage will still offer up to five bonus points.
WRC 2024: Toyota Gazoo Racing drivers and co-drivers
Toyota is delighted to confirm a star-studded driver line-up for the WRC 2024 season. Following his rise to the very top of the sport, Kalle Rovanperä will now take part in a select programme of rallies in 2024 with co-driver Jonne Halttunen. Similarly, eight-time world champion Sébastien Ogier will again contest a partial programme with co-driver Vincent Landais. This means Toyota has two multiple world champions as strong assets in our defence of the manufacturers’ championship.
Competing in each of the championship’s 13 events will be UK duo Elfyn Evans (above) and co-driver Scott Martin. Now in his fifth consecutive year with Toyota, Evans has established himself as a regular championship contender and has finished runner-up three times. Looking to build on that progress, Evans and Martin enter 2024 with their sights set on competing for their first world championship titles.
Also taking on a full season in the GR Yaris Rally1 Hybrid will be Takamoto Katsuta with co-driver Aaron Johnston, who have successfully progressed from TGR’s WRC Challenge Program into the main team line-up. Following in the footsteps of Katsuta will be Takamoto Katsuta and Yuki Yamamoto, who are scheduled to compete in European rounds of the supporting WRC2 class using the recently homologated GR Yaris Rally2 (below).
WRC 2024 calendar
The WRC 2024 season consists of 13 events across four continents. Notable changes for this 52nd edition of the championship include a shift in the date of the iconic Safari Rally Kenya, now brought forward to the start of the rainy season at the end of March; the return of Rally Poland after a seven-year absence; and the debut of Rally Latvia, which promises plenty of loose-surface action.
Round 1: Rallye Monte-Carlo, 25-28 January
Round 2: Rally Sweden, 15-18 February
Round 3: Safari Rally Kenya, 28-31 March
Round 4: Croatia Rally, 18-21 April
Round 5: Rally de Portugal, 9-12 May
Round 6: Rally Italia Sardegna, 30 May – 2 June
Round 7: Rally Poland, 27-30 June
Round 8: Rally Latvia, 18-21 July
Round 9: Rally Finland, 1-4 August
Round 10: Acropolis Rally Greece, 5-8 September
Round 11: Rally Chile, 26-29 September
Round 12: Central European Rally, 31 October – 3 November
Round 13: Rally Japan, 21-24 November
How can I watch the WRC?
Every round of the WRC 2024 season will be broadcast live on the championship’s dedicated online platform Rally.TV, as well as through traditional broadcast partners. Stage previews, team and driver interviews, and highlights of each day’s action can also be found on the official WRC YouTube channel.
Learn more: How did Toyota conclude the WRC 2023 season?
