Toyota gives GR Yaris a makeover fit for a WRC driver

At the first round of the 2024 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) in Monte Carlo, Toyota’s performance arm Gazoo Racing revealed two special editions of its famed GR Yaris road car.

Both models are based on the RZ variant of the three-door hatchback and have been respectively named after two of the Japanese rally team’s championship-winning drivers, Sébastien Ogier and Kalle Rovanperä.

Their existence came about thanks to the Chairman of Toyota, Akio Toyoda, who said he wanted to “express my respect and gratitude to the drivers who hone and grow our cars in rallies, to all the teams that provide us with such opportunities, and to rally organizers and all others involved, as well as to fans”.

Depending on which one you go for, Ogier Edition customers will be greeted by a slick-looking carbon fibre composite rear wing and a stealthy matte grey paint job, while the Rovanperä Edition comes with a swan neck rear wing and a much more shouty three-tone exterior finish.

Unique commemorative decals feature on the left and right front fenders of each car, while the stitching on the steering wheel has been colour-coordinated to each driver’s flag (France for Ogier and Finland for Rovanperä).

Another difference between the two editions is the 4WD control module, which has been playfully altered compared to the original GR Yaris’. The Ogier Edition features a ‘Normal’, ‘Morizo’, and ‘Seb’ mode, the latter of which directs more drive to the rear wheels, while the Rovanperä Edition comes with a ‘Normal’ mode, a self-explanatory ‘Donut’ setting, and a ‘Kalle’ option which allows for a bit more rear slip.

Just 100 units of each special edition GR Yaris RZ will be made, but they’ll only be sold exclusively in Japan through a “purchasing lottery”.