Rallye Monte-Carlo showcase for new GR Yaris Aero Performance and special editions

GR Yaris Aero performance featured at Rallye Monte-Carlo, the first round of the 2026 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC)

GR Yaris reaches its full potential with Aero Performance upgrades for improved straight-line stability, cornering and cooling

New components inspired, tested and refined through Toyota Gazoo Racing’s experience, with input from professional drivers

Monte-Carlo also features the world premiere of the Sébastien Ogier 9x World Champion Edition and first European appearance of the new MORIZO RR special edition

GR Yaris Rally1 and GR Yaris Rally2 H2 Concept highlight current and potential future WRC technology

The GR Yaris expressed its motorsports DNA at Rallye Monte-Carlo (22-25 January) with a showcase for the new Aero Performance model, which delivers stability and cooling improvements directly developed through competition. It was presented together with the world premiere of a new special edition celebrating the success of nine-time World Champion Sébastien Ogier and the European premiere of the MORIZO RR special edition.

A high-performance hatchback, the GR Yaris was inspired by the winning combination of power, poise and precise control of the GR Yaris Rally1 car which competes in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC).

When Akio Toyoda brought Toyota back to the WRC as Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) in 2017, he signalled the company’s passion for motorsports and strong commitment to making ever-better cars through lessons learned in competition.

The World Rally Championship tests cars, drivers and team members more than any other discipline. From freezing snow to desert heat and on every kind of road surface, it offers a unique setting to learn about the roads and conditions experienced by customers around the world. This extreme environment helps TGR to train people, develop technology and gain knowledge to build ever-better cars.

As the first dedicated model to carry the GR nameplate, the GR Yaris is the trailblazer for this philosophy. It has continually evolved since its 2020 launch via limit-pushing participation in harsh motorsports conditions. The GR Yaris Aero Performance epitomises that approach. Participation in Japan’s Super Taikyu endurance racing series and the Japanese Rally Championship prompted improvements through analysis of driving data and direct feedback from drivers.

Rallye Monte-Carlo, the opening round of the 2026 WRC season, was thus a fitting location to display the GR Yaris Aero Performance and host the world premiere of the Sébastien Ogier 9x World Champion edition. The cars were presented on January 22 on the world-famous Monaco harbourside, while the new MORIZO RR special edition was on show in the rally service park.

Monte-Carlo is the oldest and most prestigious event on the WRC calendar, featuring legendary stages such as the Col de Turini, which takes competitors through hairpins and narrow roads on a challenging mountain pass. TGR-WRT conquered the demanding conditions and took all three podium positions on the 2026 edition. Eolver Solberg, driving the rally in a Rally1 car for the first time, became the youngest winner yet at 24. He finished ahead of his teammates Elfyn Evans and reigning World Champion Sébastien Ogier.

Ogier’s record-equalling world championship tally is honoured by the Sébastien Ogier 9x World Champion Edition, production of which is limited to 200 units, including 100 for the European market. It incorporates exclusive equipment features that reflect the Frenchman’s preferences and driving style.

It includes special SEB and MORIZO all-wheel-drive control modes, developed by TGR with Ogier. Interior and exterior details combine refined understatement with functional design. The new Black Gravite colour is complemented by matt black wheels while styling accents inside and out are inspired by the colours of the French flag.

It is the second special edition to pay tribute to Ogier, following in the wheel tracks of the Ogier Edition. This was revealed at the 2024 Rallye Monte-Carlo alongside a model marking former Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team driver Kalle Rovanperä’s world championships.

All three special editions are inspired by the desire of Akio Toyoda – aka Morizo – to express his respect and gratitude to the drivers “who hone and grow our cars in rallies” and to the teams, the rally organisers and the sport’s fans. Each features all-wheel-drive control modes programmed to reflect the performance and handling preferences of each driver, together with individual styling features.

The MORIZO RRedition was displayed in Europe for the first time in Monte-Carlo, following its world premiere at the Tokyo Auto Salon earlier this month. It was created with Morizo and benefits from insights gained through the challenge of competing in the 2025 Nürburgring 24 Hours.

The limited edition is equipped with Gazoo Racing Direct Automatic Transmission (DAT) and an exclusive rear wing and features an optimised suspension set-up. The electric power steering system has been tuned and the exclusive 4WD MORIZO control mode added. Exterior details include a front spoiler, side skirts, and a carbon-fibre bonnet. The distinctive appearance is enhanced by the exclusive Gravel Khaki colour, Piano Black radiator grille, Matt Bronze wheels and yellow brake callipers.

Expanding the GR Yaris presence in Monte-Carlo, the successful present and a potential future of WRC technology were also on show. The World Championship-winning GR YARIS Rally1 was displayed next to the GR Yaris Rally2 H2 Concept, which is fitted with an internal combustion engine fuelled by compressed hydrogen. It delivers near-zero tailpipe emissions while retaining the sounds and sensations so loved by rally fans.

The new GR Yaris Aero Performance showed off the six new aerodynamic parts which improve stability and cooling by optimising air flow around the vehicle. An uncompromising approach to targeted improvements has resulted in a more confident ride – including improved straight-line stability and cornering – creating stronger sense of unity between car and driver.

A large cooling duct and grille on the aluminium bonnet mirror the contoured shape of the previous GRMN Yaris’s carbon-fibre bonnet and improve cooling during high-speed driving. The design was developed and proven in the Japanese Rally Championship.

A front lip spoiler refined in Super Taikyu competition helps to increase aerodynamic efficiency by suppressing front lift, improving lift balance and enhancing grip. The spoiler was engineered with Kazuya Oshima, a professional driver who competes with Morizo’s Rookie Racing team in the Super Formula, Super GT and Super Taikyu championships in Japan.

A prominent, variable rear spoiler contributes to high-speed handling as well as confident braking. Its angle can be manually adjusted to suit different circumstances, bringing out the best in the GR Yaris whether on the racetrack or in the city.   

A revised floor undercover optimises underbody airflow and further improves the aerodynamics. It was inspired by the flat bottom of the fuel tank used in the Super Taikyu race car.

New wing ducts, located between the front wheel and the door, release rear-flowing air that accumulates in the front wheelhouse. This improves the steering feel under heavy braking and handling stability at corner entry.

Ducts on each side of the rear bumper decrease the drag coefficient by allowing smoother airflow under the car. They were introduced in response to a scenario encountered by a GR Yaris in Super Taikyu, when a rear bumper was detached due to aerodynamic loads. Arally-style vertical handbriake, developed with the benefit of WRC and Japan Rally Championship insights, is available as an option.

Together, the new components express the full potential of the GR Yaris and create a sharper appearance with a heightened sense of purpose and style. The GR Yaris Aero Performance is available to order in the UK and Europe now.

GR Yaris technical specifications, including Aero Performance

ENDS