The World Rally Championship could be heading toward one of its most intriguing competitive battles as Toyota prepares for a dramatic new chapter in 2027. The return of former world champion Ott Tänak after seven years away from the manufacturer has created an entirely new dynamic, particularly with reigning world champion Elfyn Evans preparing to defend the title he fought so hard to secure.

For years, Evans has been Toyota’s dependable championship contender, repeatedly coming close to the ultimate prize before finally breaking through in 2026. His long-awaited triumph appeared to establish him as the central figure in the manufacturer’s future.

But the situation has changed.

Tänak is returning to the organisation where he achieved his greatest career success, bringing championship-winning experience, technical knowledge and unfinished ambitions back into the Toyota camp.

And he will not be returning to an ordinary team.

Toyota has assembled an extraordinary collection of talent for the 2027 campaign, including three world champions and several drivers capable of fighting for rally victories. The decision to divide its operation into two separate teams, featuring two different Rally1 cars, adds another layer of intrigue to an already complicated situation.

The biggest question is no longer whether Toyota has enough talent to win.

It is whether the manufacturer can manage all that talent without creating an uncomfortable battle for competitive authority.

With Evans defending his newly earned crown and Tänak returning after years away, the stage is set for a potentially explosive new era in the WRC.

OTT TÄNAK RETURNS AFTER SEVEN YEARS — AND TOYOTA’S PLANS HAVE CHANGED

Ott Tänak’s return is one of the biggest developments surrounding the 2027 World Rally Championship season.

The Estonian driver is no stranger to Toyota. His previous spell with the manufacturer produced some of the most important moments of his career, culminating in the 2019 drivers’ world championship alongside co-driver Martin Järveoja.

That achievement established Tänak among the elite drivers of modern rallying.

During his previous Toyota campaign, he demonstrated extraordinary speed, consistency and an ability to challenge the strongest competitors across different rally conditions. His championship victory also ended a remarkable period of dominance by Sébastien Ogier.

Now, seven years after becoming world champion with Toyota, Tänak is returning to the organisation.

His comeback is particularly significant because he spent the 2026 season away from full-time WRC competition after stepping back at the end of 2025.

During that period, the Estonian had an opportunity to focus on his personal life while remaining connected to the sport through Toyota’s development programme.

His involvement in testing the manufacturer’s next-generation machinery means his return is not simply a matter of rediscovering his competitive rhythm.

He already has valuable experience with the project.

That could become an important advantage as the championship prepares to introduce its new technical regulations.

Tänak understands Toyota’s working environment, knows what the organisation expects from its drivers and has already experienced the pressure of fighting for a world championship with the manufacturer.

For Toyota, bringing him back represents an opportunity to combine familiar championship-winning experience with a completely new technical project.

For the rest of the WRC field, his return represents another serious competitor.

ELfyn EVANS FINALLY REACHES THE TOP — BUT THE PRESSURE IS ABOUT TO INCREASE

Elfyn Evans enters the 2027 season from a position he spent years trying to reach.

The Welshman is finally a World Rally Champion.

His achievement in 2026 was the conclusion of an exceptionally long journey filled with near misses, difficult decisions and championship disappointments.

Since joining Toyota, Evans had repeatedly demonstrated that he possessed the speed and consistency necessary to fight for the biggest prize in rallying.

However, five previous runner-up finishes meant that the ultimate achievement continued to escape him.

That changed during the dramatic final round of the 2026 season.

Together with co-driver Scott Martin, Evans successfully secured the championship after an intense battle involving Oliver Solberg and Sami Pajari.

The final result was particularly impressive because the championship remained uncertain until the closing stages.

Evans eventually finished five points ahead of Solberg and six points ahead of Pajari, securing his first world title and ending Britain’s 25-year wait for another drivers’ champion.

For the Welshman, the victory represented more than a championship trophy.

It was confirmation that years of consistency and determination could finally deliver the reward he had pursued throughout his Toyota career.

But the celebration also brings a new responsibility.

Evans must now defend his position against a field that includes several drivers with championship-winning experience.

Unlike previous seasons, he will enter the championship as the driver everyone wants to defeat.

And within Toyota, the competitive environment is becoming increasingly demanding.

Tänak’s return introduces another former champion into the organisation, while Kalle Rovanperä is also preparing to return to the WRC.

Evans has earned his place at the top.

Now he must prove that he can remain there.

TWO TEAMS, TWO CARS AND SIX DRIVERS — TOYOTA’S MOST AMBITIOUS WRC PROJECT

Toyota’s strategy for 2027 could prove just as important as the return of Tänak.

The manufacturer has confirmed plans to operate two distinct teams with two different Rally1 cars under its wider WRC organisation.

The first operation will compete under the Toyota Racing identity, campaigning the all-new GR Celica Rally1.

The second will compete as GAZOO Racing TOYOTA, using the new GR Yaris Rally1.

This arrangement creates an unusual situation in which Toyota will have two groups of highly competitive drivers operating under the same manufacturer’s umbrella.

The Toyota Racing lineup will feature Elfyn Evans, Oliver Solberg and Sami Pajari.

Meanwhile, GAZOO Racing TOYOTA will include Ott Tänak, Kalle Rovanperä and Takamoto Katsuta.

The driver allocation is particularly interesting because both groups contain proven rally winners and drivers with significant championship ambitions.

Evans will lead one operation as the reigning world champion.

Tänak will return to the second operation as a former world champion who already knows how to win with Toyota.

Rovanperä adds two championship titles to the equation, while Solberg and Pajari arrive after exceptional 2026 campaigns.

This is an extraordinary amount of competitive experience concentrated within a single manufacturer.

Toyota’s intention is to provide both teams with the opportunity to fight for victories rather than establish one operation as clearly superior to the other.

However, that approach also creates an interesting competitive question.

What happens if one team begins outperforming the other?

What happens if the GR Celica Rally1 and GR Yaris Rally1 demonstrate different strengths across different surfaces?

And how will Toyota manage its drivers if several of them become serious championship contenders at the same time?

These questions could become central to the manufacturer’s 2027 campaign.

WHY TÄNAK’S RETURN COULD CHANGE THE BALANCE OF POWER

Tänak’s return carries considerable significance because of the experience he brings to Toyota.

He is not an inexperienced driver entering a new environment.

He is a former world champion who has already competed against the strongest names in the championship and understands the demands of winning at the highest level.

His technical knowledge is another important factor.

Tänak has developed a reputation for providing detailed feedback and working closely with engineers to improve vehicle performance.

That experience could become particularly valuable during the introduction of the new Rally1 regulations.

A completely new generation of rally cars creates uncertainty for everyone.

Even experienced champions must learn how to extract maximum performance from unfamiliar machinery.

Drivers who adapt quickly could establish an important advantage during the opening events.

Tänak’s involvement in Toyota’s development programme gives him a useful starting point.

He has already spent time working with the new project, meaning his return to competitive action comes with a degree of familiarity that other drivers may not immediately possess.

For Evans, this creates an additional challenge.

The Welshman will need to maintain his own development while defending his championship position.

He cannot afford to assume that his previous success automatically makes him Toyota’s unquestioned competitive leader.

Every driver will be judged by performance.

And Tänak has already demonstrated that he possesses the ability to deliver championship-winning results.

KALLE ROVANPERÄ’S RETURN MAKES THE INTERNAL COMPETITION EVEN MORE INTERESTING

The return of Kalle Rovanperä adds another major dimension to Toyota’s plans.

The Finnish driver became the youngest world champion in WRC history when he secured the 2022 title.

He successfully defended that championship in 2023, establishing himself as one of the most successful young drivers of the modern era.

His absence from the 2026 championship created an opportunity for other competitors to establish themselves.

Evans ultimately took advantage of that opportunity.

Now, Rovanperä is preparing to return alongside Tänak and Katsuta in the GAZOO Racing TOYOTA operation.

His programme will involve selected WRC events rather than a traditional full-season campaign.

Nevertheless, his presence gives Toyota another driver capable of fighting at the front.

The Finnish champion also brings valuable experience from previous championship-winning campaigns.

For Evans, the return of Rovanperä reinforces the reality that defending the title will require exceptional consistency.

The competition inside Toyota will not be limited to one returning former champion.

It will involve several drivers who have already demonstrated the ability to win championships and major rally events.

This makes Toyota’s 2027 lineup particularly fascinating.

The manufacturer has effectively created an environment where its own drivers could become some of its strongest competitive opponents.

THE NEW WRC27 REGULATIONS COULD CHANGE EVERYTHING

The arrival of the 2027 technical regulations is another reason why the upcoming season could produce unexpected results.

The championship is moving away from the Rally1 technical framework introduced in 2022 and entering a new era designed to make the top category more accessible.

The new generation of machinery will introduce significant technical changes, including Rally2-derived components and greater flexibility in certain areas of vehicle development.

For Toyota, the transition represents an opportunity to establish a new competitive advantage.

The GR Celica Rally1 and GR Yaris Rally1 are being developed in parallel, allowing the manufacturer to explore two different approaches to the same technical challenge.

However, there is no guarantee that both cars will deliver identical performance.

Different characteristics could become more noticeable depending on the rally surface, weather conditions and development direction.

Gravel events could expose certain strengths, while asphalt rallies may reveal completely different competitive advantages.

This makes driver feedback particularly important.

Tänak’s experience could become a valuable asset during the development process, while Evans will have the opportunity to build on his existing relationship with Toyota.

Both drivers will need to adapt.

The manufacturer will also need to make difficult technical decisions if development priorities begin to differ between the two operations.

The new regulations could therefore create opportunities for one driver to establish himself as the leading figure in the early stages of the championship.

And that is precisely why the 2027 season could become so unpredictable.

IS TOYOTA PREPARING FOR A CHAMPIONSHIP BATTLE WITHIN ITS OWN TEAM?

One of the most interesting aspects of Toyota’s expanded operation is the possibility of internal competition becoming almost as important as the fight against rival manufacturers.

The organisation has assembled a lineup featuring three world champions and several drivers with multiple rally victories.

Such depth is an obvious competitive advantage.

But it also creates management challenges.

Every driver wants opportunities to win.

Every co-driver wants to deliver championship success.

And every team member wants to see the car they helped develop competing at the front.

Toyota will need to maintain a clear balance between individual ambitions and the manufacturer’s wider objectives.

The existence of two separate operations could help reduce some of the pressure.

However, both teams will still share the same broader organisation, technical resources and championship ambitions.

Their performances will inevitably be compared.

If Evans begins winning consistently with the GR Celica Rally1, Toyota Racing could establish itself as the strongest operation.

If Tänak and Rovanperä demonstrate superior pace with the GR Yaris Rally1, attention could shift toward GAZOO Racing TOYOTA.

Neither scenario would automatically indicate a problem.

Competition can encourage development and push drivers to improve.

But managing the expectations of multiple champions will require strong leadership.

Toyota has built its recent success around teamwork, technical consistency and a clear competitive structure.

Maintaining those principles while operating two teams with six highly capable drivers could become one of its biggest challenges.

TÄNAK VERSUS EVANS — A RIVALRY THAT FANS WILL BE WATCHING CLOSELY

The prospect of Tänak and Evans competing for the same championship naturally creates an appealing storyline.

Their careers have followed different paths.

Tänak reached the top in 2019, later moved between manufacturers and eventually stepped away from full-time competition before agreeing to return with Toyota.

Evans, meanwhile, spent years pursuing the championship before finally securing his first title in 2026.

One is returning after a period away.

The other is preparing to defend the biggest achievement of his career.

Their competitive approaches also offer an interesting contrast.

Tänak is known for his aggressive pace and technical attention to detail.

Evans has built his reputation around consistency, calculated driving and the ability to remain competitive across different rally conditions.

Both approaches can deliver championship success.

The real question is which driver will adapt more effectively to the new machinery.

It would be premature to describe their relationship as an established personal conflict. Neither a direct public challenge from Tänak nor a hostile response from Evans should be treated as confirmed without reliable evidence.

However, the sporting circumstances alone provide plenty of reasons for fans to watch their relationship closely.

The championship will ultimately decide the strongest performer.

And Toyota could find itself managing an extraordinary battle between two drivers who both have legitimate reasons to believe they can fight for the title.

THE BIG QUESTION: CAN ELFYN EVANS REMAIN TOYOTA’S LEADING CHAMPION?

As the 2027 season approaches, Evans faces a challenge unlike anything he has experienced during his previous years with Toyota.

He has finally achieved his lifelong championship ambition.

But the next chapter could be even more demanding.

Tänak is returning with valuable experience and an established relationship with the manufacturer.

Rovanperä brings the confidence of a two-time world champion.

Solberg and Pajari are entering the new season with the momentum of exceptional performances.

Katsuta also has the opportunity to build on his breakthrough victories.

There will be no shortage of competition.

For Evans, the priority must be maintaining his consistency while adapting to the new GR Celica Rally1.

For Tänak, the objective will be demonstrating that his return can produce another championship-winning chapter.

For Toyota, the challenge is transforming an exceptionally talented lineup into a successful two-team operation.

The stakes are considerable.

A strong start could establish the competitive hierarchy, but early results may not tell the entire story of a championship fought across different surfaces and demanding conditions.

The development race will be just as important as the battles on the stages.

FINAL VERDICT: SEVEN YEARS LATER, TÄNAK IS BACK — AND TOYOTA’S CHAMPIONSHIP HIERARCHY COULD BE TESTED

Ott Tänak’s return to Toyota has transformed the conversation surrounding the 2027 World Rally Championship.

Seven years after winning his first and only drivers’ world title with the manufacturer, the Estonian is returning to a completely different competitive environment.

Elfyn Evans is no longer the driver chasing his first championship.

He is the reigning world champion, preparing to defend his position against an increasingly powerful group of competitors.

The arrival of Tänak and Rovanperä makes that challenge even more demanding.

Toyota’s decision to operate two separate teams with the GR Celica Rally1 and GR Yaris Rally1 creates an unusual opportunity to test two competitive approaches while giving several championship-level drivers the chance to fight for victories.

But success will depend on more than the speed of the cars.

It will depend on teamwork, development, consistency and the manufacturer’s ability to manage the ambitions of its drivers.

The potential for an internal competitive battle is undeniable, even without evidence of a personal dispute between Evans and Tänak.

Seven years after leaving Toyota as a world champion, Ott Tänak is returning to the team that helped make him a legend. This time, however, he will enter an organisation led by a new world champion who has no intention of surrendering his position.

The 2027 season could reveal whether Toyota’s extraordinary lineup becomes its greatest weapon or its most complicated challenge.

One thing is certain: the battle for the next WRC crown is already shaping up to be fascinating.