Japanese automotive giant Toyota is set to field two entirely separate factory squads for the 2027 World Rally Championship season: Toyota Racing and Toyota Gazoo Racing.

Behind the wheel of the brand-new GR Celica Rally1 for Toyota Racing will be reigning world champion Elfyn Evans, 2026 runner-up Oliver Solberg, and third-place finisher Sami Pajari.

Meanwhile, the Toyota Gazoo Racing outfit will count on the returning Ott Tänak and Takamoto Katsuta for full-season campaigns, while Kalle Rovanperä will contest roughly half the rounds. All three will pilot the GR Yaris Rally1.

Team principal Jari-Matti Latvala revealed to DirtFish how the driver split was determined.

The Japanese manufacturer has strongly emphasized that there will be no number one or number two team. Both setups will enjoy equal factory status, with identical technical performance and mechanicals, differing only in aerodynamics and bodyshell design.

The Finn added that both the World Rally Championship and Toyota benefit from running two teams, doubling the drama for drivers, engineers, and spectators alike. However, he acknowledged that the original blueprint anticipated a stronger presence from rival manufacturers in 2027.

In the service park, the two squads will sport distinctive liveries and team wear, even though mechanics and support staff will operate as one unified outfit. A managerial restructuring is also under consideration.