Toyota Race Cars

1. Toyota Celica GT-Four (ST185)

During the 1992, 1993 and 1994 seasons it racked up an incredible 16 WRC wins, three WRC drivers’ titles and two manufacturers’ titles.

After some initial teething problems, the new ST185 Celica GT-Four became a devastatingly effective rally weapon.

The Celica GT-Four ST185 is most celebrated for its remarkable success in the World Rally Championship (WRC). It became a dominant force in the early 90s, securing the manufacturers' World Championship for Toyota in 1993 and 1994.

Driven by legendary pilots such as Juha Kankkunen and Carlos Sainz, it won numerous rallies across the globe, proving the car's reliability, speed, and agility on challenging terrains. The ST185 helped solidify Toyota's reputation in motorsports, especially in rallying, where challenging conditions test both driver skill and vehicle durability.

During the 1992, 1993 and 1994 seasons it racked up an incredible 16 WRC wins, three WRC drivers’ titles and two WRC manufacturers’ titles.

The Celica GT-Four ST185's influence extends beyond its rally achievements; it represented Toyota's commitment to high-performance AWD sports cars and contributed significantly to the development of future performance models.

2. Toyota TS010

The Toyota TS010 was a groundbreaking endurance race car developed by Toyota for the Group C category in the early 1990s

Since the FIA issued the technical regulations for the sportscar prototype in 1982, many carmakers around the world took an interest in the Group C class. However, when the FIA changed the technical regulation in 1991 to allow only cars with naturally aspirated 3.5L engines, carmakers dropped out of the class one after another which led to the end of the championship series after the 1992 season. After having withdrawn for the series in 1991, Toyota entered the SWC series in 1992 with its TS010 mounting a V10 engine. After winning the opening round at Monza, hopes were high for a long-awaited win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. However, of the three TS010 cars Toyota entered Le Mans with, a 2nd place by one of them driven by Masanori Sekiya and others was the best finish. But now, Toyota was truly only one step away from victory.

With no other planned races on its 1993 schedule for the TS010, Toyota could focus purely on the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The race turned into a one-on-one duel for victory with the Peugeot entered under the same conditions as Toyota's TS010. In this duel, Toyota was rumored by most to hold the advantage, but one stroke of bad luck after another eventually held back all three TS010 cars, and in the end their best was a 4th-place finish. Meanwhile, privateers running with older specification Toyota 92C-V cars performed well and finished in 5th and 9th place.

Then the scene changed from Group C cars to the new era of GT cars. Although Group C cars were still allowed to enter the 1994 Le Mans race, they were greatly encumbered by things like weight and fuel tank volume. Two Toyota 94C-V cars geared up to the new regulation from the 92C-V were entered in the race by privateers and ran well. One of these cars entered by SARD ran in the lead until dawn, but about one hour before the finish it developed shift linkage trouble and came to a stop, but it was able to restart and make it to the checkered flag. Just short of victory, this trouble caused it to finish in 2nd place.

3. Toyota TS050 Hybrid

Multiple victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, showcasing Toyota's prowess in integrating electric power with traditional engines.

Toyota rejoined the World Endurance Championship for the hybrid era in 2012 and its trend of losing out at the hands of lady luck continued with mechanical failures, crashes and just not quite being on the pace. The potential of the TS040 that succeeded it was evident, with both the driver’s and manufacturer’s championships secured in 2014, if not the outright Le Mans win. That would be the job of the TS050.

Debuting in 2016 to fight Audi and Porsche in the closing years of the LMP era, the TS050 seemed like the car to break Toyota’s streak of DNFs and 2nd places (1992, 1994, 1999 and 2013!) as it took the lead and strode ahead. With the Porsche over a minute behind and just under seven minutes left of the race, trouble was brewing, as the leading #5 TS050 began to experience power loss. Risking it for the win, the team left the car out and Nakajima wound up having to stop with less than 3:30 to go. That meant that yes, the Porsche passed it on the final lap. 

So heartbreaking was the loss that even Porsche extended words of sympathy and deference to the deflated Toyota squad. It wouldn’t be until 2018, with Porsche and Audi having bowed out in the previous years, that the TS050 would finally claim victory at Le Mans. Hollow? Given the relative lack of competition, potentially. Given the work put in by Toyota over the years to get to that moment and given the strength of the TS050 platform, absolutely not. They’re now on their fourth win going relatively unchallenged, though the coming wave of LMH and LMDh entries will test Toyota properly once again.

4. TOM's Supra Super GT

The TOM's Supra has etched its name as one of the iconic endurance racers of our time, capturing the hearts of the PlayStation era.

The TOM's Supra has etched its name as one of the iconic endurance racers of our time, capturing the hearts of the PlayStation era, rivaled perhaps only by the legendary Calsonic Skyline GT-R. Its image is so deeply ingrained in the memories of those who grew up mastering the Gran Turismo series that it has been revived as a highlight vehicle for GT7, slated for next year's release.

Beyond its digital fame, the TOM's Supra was a formidable competitor on actual racetracks, challenging Nissan's dominance at the 1995 Japanese Grand Touring Car Championship (JGTC). Toyota strategically opted for a more compact, efficient, and powerful engine derived from the championship-winning Celica's rally-proven four-cylinder, replacing the bulkier 2JZ engine. This switch gave the JGTC Supras a decisive competitive advantage. The car clinched its first victory at the Sendai Hi-Land Raceway, a triumph that came just a week after Masanori Sekiya's remarkable win at Le Mans in a McLaren F1 GTR, alongside Yannick Dalmas and J.J. Lehto.

In 1996, the F1s joined Sekiya in the GT500 category, but by 1997, the spotlight returned to Toyota for an unforgettable season that culminated in a tie-break between two Toyota teams, setting the stage for four years of supremacy and solidifying the Castrol Supra's status in the annals of great car-livery pairings. This period also saw the beginning of a three-way rivalry in Japanese GT racing with Honda's entry in the late 1990s, a competition that remains fierce to this day.

5. Toyota Hilux Dakar

Toyota has been a strong contender in the Dakar Rally, with the Hilux being its vehicle of choice for the challenging terrains of this grueling race.

Toyota is a relative newcomer to the Dakar Rally, widely recognised as the world’s toughest off-road motorsport event. But the Hilux Dakar certainly made a huge impression when it first appeared in 2012, clinching third place overall and the best finish for a petrol-engine car in three years, despite complying with production-based regulations. Since then, the Hilux Dakar has continued to exceed expectations and has secured a podium position six times in the past eight attempts, with 2019 marking the team’s first overall victory.

These Dakar versions of the Hilux are significantly modified from the standard production models to endure the harsh conditions of the rally. They are equipped with powerful engines, advanced 4x4 systems, and suspension setups designed to handle extreme off-road conditions. High ground clearance, fortified chassis, and enhanced safety features are also key characteristics, ensuring the vehicle and its occupants can withstand the rigorous demands of the race.

The success of the Toyota Hilux in the Dakar Rally has had a significant impact on the Hilux's brand image, cementing its status as one of the most reliable and toughest vehicles in its class.

6. Toyota Yaris WRC

This specially prepared Yaris tuned to comply with new technical regulations came out guns blazing and quickly put Toyota back on top of the WRC world.

Up until the end of our factory-backed team initiatives in 1999, Toyota made WRC history with three manufacturer team titles and four driver titles. Then in 2017 Toyota returned to WRC as the Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team, with a specially prepared Yaris tuned to comply with new technical regulations.

Under the bonnet was a new 1.6-litre direct injection turbo engine producing 380+ horsepower and letting rip through all four wheels. 

Toyota finished third in the Manufacturers’ standings with this newly developed Yaris WRC driven by Finnish drivers Jari-Matti Latvala, Juho Hanninen, and Esapekka Lappi.

After further developing the car and hiring of Estonian driver Ott Tanak, Toyota won its fourth Manufacturers’ title in 2018. Its dominance continued in 2019, with the Estonian grabbing six wins and the Drivers’ title while the team finished second overall.

In the offseason, the team managed to secure the services of rally legend Sebastien Ogier, and after a 2020 season cut short by the ongoing pandemic, the Frenchman took two victories and three podium finishes, winning his seventh Drivers’ title. 

7. Toyota GT-One (TS020)

Few names conjure as vivid an image of speed, innovation, and will to win as the Toyota GT-One. Encapsulates Toyota's ambition to conquer the Le Mans.

Toyota’s somewhat lukewarm sportscar experience with the TS010 could have put them off but the difficult transition from GT1 to LMP proved too tempting to miss. Right at the end of the road-associated era for these top-flight cars, came the Toyota TS020, better-known as the GT-One.

The project was ambitious from the outset, with the goal of creating a car that could compete at the highest level of endurance racing, the LMP1 category. The development focused on aerodynamics, lightweight construction, and powertrain performance, pushing the boundaries of what was technically possible at the time. The car's design was striking, featuring a sleek, low profile that was optimized for high speeds on Le Mans' Mulsanne Straight. The bodywork was an exercise in aerodynamic efficiency, reducing drag while maximizing downforce - essential for the high-speed corners and stability at over 200 mph. The cockpit was positioned far forward, with the driver almost at the nose of the car, enhancing visibility and control.

A prototype by any other name, just two road-going examples of these pure racers were built, with Toyota arguing the empty fuel tank counted as luggage space.It got them through though and very nearly the win at Le Mans, if not for what is now known as part of the long-running Toyota curse.

A gearbox failure in the closing laps dashed Toyota’s hopes for the outright win it was fighting for in 1998. For 1999 the car was evolved into a fully-fledged GTP car after modified homologation rules pushed it out. Not that much modification was needed. Once again promising, the GT-Ones took first and second in qualifying. Once again, attrition claimed cars with a tyre blowout causing irreparable damage to Martin Brundle’s car. The last car remaining, chasing the BMW LMR for the lead, also lost a tyre, dashing its chances for an overall win. It got back out there for a GTP class win but as victories go, it was bittersweet for Toyota.

8. 1999 Toyota Tundra Pikes Peak

Designed exclusively for the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, also known as "The Race to the Clouds." Shows Toyota's versatility in motorsports.

Millen drove an 800bhp all-wheel drive Toyota Celica to a record-breaking win in the 1994 Pikes Peak ‘Race to the Sky,’ up a 14,110ft mountain course in Colorado, an event with which the driver and Toyota have since become synonymous.

Millen originally trained as a surveyor, but found his true vocation in dirt road rallying. In 1978, after becoming the first driver to win three consecutive New Zealand Rally Championships, he moved to California to compete against the top US drivers. He fulfilled a liftetime’s ambition by winning the Pikes Peak hill climb, completing the 12.42-mile, 156-turn gravel course in 10 minutes 4.2 seconds, a race record that stands to this day.

In 1998, the Rod Millen Motorsport team designed and built a new Toyota Tacoma racing truck to compete in the 76th Pikes Peak international hill climb, a machine which went on to claim the unlimited class honours in the 1998 and 1999 events. It is this truck that Millen will drive at the 2007 Festival of Speed.

9. Toyota 7

Marked a significant advance in Toyota’s motor sport program, being its first thoroughbred race car, designed and developed purely for competition.

Yamaha helped Toyota birth its Group 7 sportscar. Yes, this 1960s wedge-shaped monster was Toyota’s first purpose-built racing car. The Toyota 7 marked a significant advance in Toyota’s motor sport program, being its first thoroughbred race car, designed and developed purely for competition purposes. It was encouraged in its efforts by the growing popularity of motor sport in Japan, with new circuits and race series attracting huge crowds.

The open cockpit, two-seater was conceived to compete in the Japanese Grand Prix, running under the FIA’s Group 7 regulations for international sports car racing. The original model was penned by Jiro Kawano, the man behind the Toyota GT, but development and construction were entrusted to Yamaha. The design was typical of its time, with the main cockpit structure comprising aluminium side sills and scuttles, with glass fibre body panels.

The prototype 7 first tested at Suzuka in February 1968, running with the DOHC fuel-injected, six-cylinder, 2.0-litre engine that had previously powered the 2000GT. But by the time the car lined up for its first race at the grand prix in March, it had gained an all-alloy DOHC 3.0-litre V8 unit. In 1969, the engine was upgraded to five-litre capacity and the 7 duly gained its maiden win at the All Japan Fuji 1,000km in July, the start of an impressive run of victories.

With an eye to moving its sporting campaign on to an international level in the North American Can-Am series, Toyota began development of a twin-turbocharged version of the 7, developing 800bhp but weighing just 620kg. The car was completed and undertook a series of demonstration drives, but it was fated never to race.

10. Toyota Celica Twincam Turbo (Group B)

The most exciting rally car Toyota ever built. A product of new Group B regulations adopted by the World Rally Championship between 1983 and 1986.

The Toyota Celica Twincam Turbo, specifically the TA64, is an iconic rally car that competed under the Group B regulations, a category known for some of the most powerful and sophisticated rally cars ever produced. Group B, established by the FIA in 1982, encouraged significant technological advancements and performance improvements in rally racing, leading to the creation of highly specialized and potent rally vehicles until the category was discontinued in 1986 for safety reasons.

The Celica Twincam Turbo was Toyota's answer to the extreme competition of the Group B era, designed to excel in the World Rally Championship (WRC). It was based on the Celica's rear-wheel-drive platform, despite the trend towards four-wheel drive in the rally scene at the time. The car was powered by a potent 2.1-liter turbocharged inline-four engine (the 3T-GTE), capable of producing over 300 horsepower, which was a significant figure for rally cars of that era.

One of the Celica Twincam Turbo's most notable features was its distinctive bodywork, including flared wheel arches and large rear spoilers to improve aerodynamics and traction. The vehicle was also equipped with advanced suspension and braking systems to handle the demanding conditions of rally stages, from gravel and mud to asphalt

The Toyota Celica Twincam Turbo achieved considerable success in the WRC, particularly in the African rallies, where its robustness and reliability were crucial advantages. The car won the grueling Safari Rally in Kenya several times, proving its durability and performance in some of the most challenging conditions imaginable for a rally car. The Celica proved so dominant in the Safari and Ivory Coast Rallies that it earned the nickname ‘King of Africa’.