And it suits you wonderfully, right? Who doesn't remember the flights of the WRC Celica with the classic green, white and red colors of the Toyota and Castrol team in the 90s or even the adaptation that came to the Corolla years later. This classic livery will arrive in the form of a tribute to the British Championship of Rally2 and few cars have left such a distinctive design mark, personally a second contender comes to mind in this regard and it is the Impreza with its neon yellow touches on the blue, but as I tell you, this car was unique.
Are you agree?
Design
Evoking a wave of nostalgia, the new Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, courtesy of Melvyn Evans Motorsport, will proudly sport the same iconic theme in the 2024 edition of the British Rally Championship. The unveiling of the new “Castrol MEM Rally Team” took place at the picturesque Rolls of Monmouth country estate in the UK, where the Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 shared the spotlight with its iconic grandfather, the Celica GT-Four ST185. The updated version of the lubricant company's distinctive livery was created by Keane Design. Staying true to the original, it features green and red accents on a white background, albeit with a contemporary twist to the graphics.
Although the athletic presence of Celica GT-Four ST185 It's hard to beat, but the hatchback GR Yaris Rally2 It looks quite aggressive thanks to the wide fender extensions and exaggerated aerodynamic flares. The Castrol MEM Rally Team will race two GR Yaris, driven by Meirion Evans / Jonathan Jackson and Chris Ingram / Alex Kihurani.
Car
The GR Yaris Rally2, developed by Toyota Gazoo Racing in Finland and homologated for WRC2 ruleshas been around since 2022. Unlike its full-range Rally1 counterpart, which features a hybrid setup, the Rally2 is equipped with a non-electrified version of the 1.6-liter three-cylinder turbocharged enginecoupled to a five-speed sequential transmission that distributes power to all four wheels.
To transmit this power, the GR Yaris Rally2 is equipped with a five-speed sequential transmission. This gearbox promises fast and precise shifts, allowing drivers to maximize performance with each gear change without losing time or traction. Besides, the all-wheel drive Permanent drive intelligently distributes power to all four wheels, ensuring optimal traction at all times, even on difficult and slippery terrain.
Grandpa
The Toyota GT-Four ST185, the icon of the rally world, stood out for its competitiveness on the tracks. Equipped with a 2.0 liter turbocharged engine and all-wheel drive, it offered a combination of power and grip in a variety of driving conditions, remember what a visual pleasure it was when rolling through mud and how elegant it looked over Castrol's design. Its robust construction and agile handling made it a formidable competitor on the most demanding stages, earning the respect of drivers and fans alike.
Led by legends like Carlos Sainz, Juha Kankkunen and Didier Auriolthe Toyota GT-Four ST185 and its previous generations left victories on multiple occasions, securing titles in the World Rally Championship in 1992, 1993 and 1994 respectively. What better than a video from TOYOTA GAZOO Racing itself to remember it:
