Toyota launches GR Yaris Rally2 at the ARC

The hotly anticipated GR Yaris Rally2 made its Australian debut at the 2024 Bosch Motorsport Australian Rally Championship (ARC) back in April.

The TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Australia (TGRA) Rally Team kicked off the ARC season with defending champions Harry Bates and Coral Taylor claiming victory at Rally of Canberra. The ARC wrapped up in November and going back-to-back with last year’s win, Harry and Coral have been crowned 2024’s ARC champions.

The Rally2 has been pitched as “the aggressive sibling of the GR Yaris Rally1” according to Toyota WRC team technical director, Tom Fowler. The two new cars have replaced the successful ARC-winning AP4s, driven by Harry and Lewis Bates alongside their respective co-drivers, Coral Taylor and Anthony McLoughlin.

A step up from the GR Yaris AP4, the key design elements and features of the Rally2 include an advanced suspension system, low centre of gravity and onboard Bosch dash. The Australian-designed and built AP4s gave the TGRA Rally team two consecutive drivers and co-drivers championship titles. The GR Yaris Rally2 proved it had the edge this year, leading the TGRA team to victory.

Designed for rally performance

The design of the Rally2 car originated in the development of the GR Yaris. This means that GR Yaris owners are getting behind the wheel of a vehicle that’s pretty close to the real deal.

“The whole package, the chassis, the engine – everything is tailor-made for rallying, and the engine from day one was designed to sit within the Rally2 regulations,”

Harry

The GR Yaris Rally2 was developed and built by TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team (TGR-WRT), based in Jyväskylä, Finland. Although they didn’t have as much of a hand in developing the Rally2 compared to the AP4, Neal Bates Motorsport was involved in the development of the engine.

Similar to the TGRA team’s AP4s, the Rally2 runs a 1.6-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine that drives all four wheels through a five-speed sequential transmission. The Rally2 is the only car in the World Rally Championship with a three-cylinder engine, making it stand out in the rally world and giving it a competitive edge. Equipped with a sequential gearbox, the Rally2 allows drivers to shift without using the clutch during stages for faster shifts and a smoother driving experience.

Harry explained the design from a weight perspective:

“If you look at certain panels utilised on the rally car – carbon fibre composite roof, aluminium doors, bonnet and hatch – these sorts of things are an amazing advantage to afford a lower centre of gravity, which is a massive thing in rally.”

Harry

Turning the road car into a rally car let the engineers play with suspension in ways other manufacturers couldn't.

“Additional suspension travel over a road car makes it a pleasure to drive in rough conditions, which we often face as rally drivers.””

Harry

The brain of the car – the Bosch ECU – is super fast at processing. If there are any mechanical issues, drivers can troubleshoot and calibrate on the go, which is particularly helpful when you’re on a rally stage and far away from any help.

When asked what was missing from the Rally2, Harry half-jokingly said, “A phone charger”. Other than that, the Bates brothers think it’s pretty complete.

Safety at the forefront

Safety remains a top priority and the Bates brothers are confident in how safe the GR Yaris Rally2 feels. Safety features have continued to improve, which Lewis himself can personally vouch for. He had a huge accident at Rally Queensland earlier this year – he missed a note, causing him to roll down the hill at 165km/h (watch the playback here). Lewis and co-driver Anthony McLoughlin were lucky to walk away from the incident unharmed.

“We analysed the damage of the car post-accident once it was back at the workshop and it did everything that it should do in a roll – I think we rolled 6 times over 120 metres. The way the car protected itself is quite incredible.”

Lewis Bates

Harry has already ticked his favourite rally off the bucket list with his home turf win at Rally of Canberra. Rally of Canberra was Round 1 of the ARC this year and said he was fortunate to have competed in his favourite rally in the Rally2 already.

With GR Yaris Rally2’s distinct advantages combining superb weight distribution, a lower centre of gravity, and an advanced suspension system, it’s obvious that no other Rally2 vehicle on the market compares.

Huge thanks to Harry and Lewis Bates for their insights and anecdotes.

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