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4 clusters · 15 sources · 7 days · First seen 6 days ago · Last updated about 6 hours ago

Categories: SPORTS

Toyota dominates Finnish rally as WRC transition looms

Entities: Toyota Motor Corporation · Jyväskylä · Sami Pajari · Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile · Takamoto Katsuta

Overview

Toyota Gazoo Racing entered the 2026 Rally Finland with its five drivers occupying the top five places in the World Rally Championship standings, extending a season in which the team has won eight of nine rallies. The event ran from 30 July to 2 August around Jyväskylä, featuring twenty special stages covering 316 km, each run twice. Local police directed traffic, enforced parking zones and route restrictions, and spectators were urged to stay in designated viewing areas.

During the shake‑down stage on 30 July, Takumi Katsuta and co‑driver Aaron Johnston posted the fastest time (2:11.7) in a GR Yaris, saying his aim is to win the rally and recover points lost last season, while hoping rain will firm up loose sections. Their performance placed Katsuta at the front of a field that also saw Hyundai’s Adrian Fülöp and Toyota’s Oliver Solberg tied for second, with fellow Toyota driver Elfyn Evans fourth.

Toyota’s continued dominance reinforces its strategic edge as the FIA prepares for the final Rally1 events before retiring the hybrid‑powered class and moving to the cost‑reduced WRC27 category, for which Toyota already has a ready prototype while rivals have yet to unveil replacements.

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[● 3 SOURCES] The Finnish round of the 2026 World Rally Championship will be held in Jyväskylä from 30 July to 2 August. (supported by articles bb bab81c‑..., 81a8d7ac‑..., and 871861c1‑...)
[● 2 SOURCES] The FIA plans to replace Rally1 with a new WRC27 class based on Rally2 technology for the 2027‑2028 seasons. (The FIA plans to replace Rally1 with a new WRC27 class based on Rally2 technology for the 2027‑2028 seasons.)
[● 2 SOURCES] Toyota's rally team has built and tested a WRC27 car, becoming the only manufacturer to do so under the new rules. (Toyota's rally team has built and tested a WRC27 car, becoming the only manufacturer to do so under the new rules.)
[● 2 SOURCES] Toyota team chief Jari‑Matti Latvala said Toyota also plans civilian versions of the WRC27 car. (Toyota team chief Jari‑Matti Latvala said Toyota also plans civilian versions of the WRC27 car.)
[● 2 SOURCES] On 23 June the FIA World Council approved that Rally2‑WRC‑Kit cars may compete in the top class in 2027 and 2028. (On 23 June the FIA World Council approved that Rally2‑WRC‑Kit cars may compete in the top class in 2027 and 2028.)
[● 2 SOURCES] Hyundai and M‑Sport have not yet built a WRC27 car; M‑Sport intends to enter a Rally2‑WRC‑Kit car for 2027‑2028. (Hyundai and M‑Sport have not yet built a WRC27 car; M‑Sport intends to enter a Rally2‑WRC‑Kit car for 2027‑2028.)
[● 2 SOURCES] A WRC27 car is expected to cost about €345,000. (A WRC27 car is expected to cost about €345,000.)
[○ 1 SOURCE] Rally1 cars will be retired after the 2024 season, with their final appearances in Jyväskylä, Finland. (Rally1 cars will be retired after the 2024 season, with their final appearances in Jyväskylä, Finland.)
[○ 1 SOURCE] Jyväskylä’s Aalto2 museum will host a rally exhibition until 8 November marking the sport’s 75‑year anniversary. (Jyväskylä’s Aalto2 museum will host a rally exhibition until 8 November marking the sport’s 75‑year anniversary.)
[○ 1 SOURCE] Toyota drivers occupy the top five positions in the overall WRC standings ahead of the Finnish round. (supported by article bb bab81c‑...)
[○ 1 SOURCE] Sami Pajari is third in the championship with 144 points, behind Elfyn Evans (177) and Takamoto Katsuta (152). (supported by article bb bab81c‑...)
[○ 1 SOURCE] The rally will feature 20 special stages covering a total of 316.04 km, with each of the ten stages run twice. (supported by article 81a8d7ac‑...)

Timeline

about 6 hours ago

[SPORTS] 2 sources
Toyota's Takumi Katsuta Leads WRC Rally Finland Shake-Down
Toyota's Takumi Katsuta and co‑driver Aaron Johnston posted the fastest 2:11.7 in the WRC Rally Finland shake‑down, targeting a win and point recovery, with Toyota drivers filling the top four.
1 day ago

[SPORTS] 8 sources
Toyota dominates Finnish World Rally Championship round in Jyväskylä
The Finnish WRC round in Jyväskylä (30 July–2 August) sees Toyota dominate the standings, with Sami Pajari third. Police impose special traffic controls for the 20‑stage, 316 km event.
1 day ago

[SPORTS] 3 sources
Toyota to field the sole WRC27 car as Rally1 era ends in Finland
Toyota is the only team with a ready WRC27 car as FIA retires Rally1 after 2024, with final Rally1 runs in Jyväskylä, Finland. FIA approved Rally2‑WRC‑Kit cars for 2027‑2028.
6 days ago

[SPORTS] 3 sources
Toyota Gazoo Racing returns home for Rally Finland round, all five drivers lead WRC standings
Toyota Gazoo Racing heads to its home rally in Finland, where its five drivers occupy the top five WRC spots ahead of the July‑August event.

Sources

as-web.jp · demokraatti.fi · europesays.com · forssanlehti.fi · hameensanomat.fi · iltalehti.fi · ita-savo.fi · karjalainen.fi · ksml.fi · lansi-savo.fi · rallit.fi · revistascratch.com · stara.fi · toyotagazooracing.com · veteran.ch

This summary has been updated 2 times: see revision history