January’s 2027 season opener is the first time Toyota’s all-new WRC challenger will lock horns with cars competing under revised Rally2 kit regulations. Fowler clarified Toyota’s position on running a kit-specification GR Yaris Rally2 in 2027.
“Fundamentally,” he said, “the FIA has two categories: RC1 and RC2 for next year’s World Rally Championship. And our product line-up matches those regulations. If you want to compete in RC1, you can buy a WRC27 car and if you want to compete in WRC2, then you can buy an RC2 car.
“Bringing a third possible option in between those two cars six months out from the start of the season is not sensible when we’re committed to a certain development path. Unfortunately, there will be some people that are thinking they want to convert their [GR Yaris] Rally2 with a kit to be included in RC1. But, honestly speaking, I think it’s quite a limited market.”
Talking more broadly about the kit regulation, Fowler added: “It’s not a bad option. It kind of feels like it’s an option for manufacturers who have, let’s say, missed the bus with the immediate WRC27 regulations. Is it going to make a huge difference? I’m not sure – the 10kg weight-saving will and the aero will help in some circumstances.
“But we shouldn’t forget we’re talking about cars with regulations which are 15 years old; I’d say around 95% of a Rally2 car is R5. So much has moved on the side of technology, electronics and manufacturing materials and processes since those orjginal regulations were written in 2011.”