Toyota’s Gazoo Racing has revealed more of its next-generation World Rally Championship prototype during testing at the rally stages in Tarragona, Spain. The car is expected to replace the GR Yaris Rally1 for the 2027 season and is widely believed to preview the return of the Celica name to rallying.

The prototype was previously seen during development testing in Portugal in February 2026. While the latest test car maintains broadly similar proportions, it appears to feature a revised body design. Its red, black, gray, and white Gazoo Racing camouflage still conceals much of the exterior, but the car was parked close enough to fans and photographers to offer a clearer view.

Coupe-inspired rally design

At the front, the prototype carries sharp headlights that resemble those used on the current European-market Corolla sedan. A pronounced hood scoop sits above the grille, while additional hood vents and creases contribute to its competition-focused appearance. The front bumper also includes a large opening intended for cooling.

The car’s side profile is defined by a two-door coupe shape, broad fender extensions, substantial side skirts, and air intakes positioned beneath the rear quarter windows. At the back, the fastback-style body incorporates a fixed wing attached to an integrated spoiler. The taillights appear to be linked by a full-width trim piece above the sculpted bumper, which houses a centrally located single exhaust outlet.

Celica identity remains unconfirmed

Toyota has not yet confirmed the name of the new rally car. Its coupe-like proportions and planned arrival for the 2027 WRC season have led to expectations that it could carry the Celica name, however. Previous Celica-based rally cars secured two manufacturer’s championships and four driver’s championships in the WRC, giving the name a significant competition history.

The rally prototype and a potential roadgoing Celica would not be mechanically identical. The 2027 WRC regulations require competitors to use a common tubular spaceframe chassis and turbocharged 1.6-liter engines. A road car, by contrast, is expected to use Toyota’s TNGA platform, a new turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, and an all-wheel-drive system derived from rally development.

The prototype may provide some clues about the styling of a future production Celica, although its dedicated chassis and extensive aerodynamic equipment are likely to make its proportions substantially different from those of a road model. Gazoo Racing has not announced when it will formally unveil the rally car. A near-production concept previewing the roadgoing model could appear in early or mid-2027, but that timing remains unconfirmed.