Toyota confirms GR Corolla RC2 for American rally championship in 2026 with Seth Quintero By Beatriz
3 min read
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Toyota Gazoo Racing announced the official entry into Campeonato Nacional of American Rally Association (ARA) in 2026. The chosen model is theGR Corolla RC2, a competition version based on the street sports hatch. The debut takes place from the second stage of the season, the 100 Acre Wood Rally, in March, at Missouri, at Estados Unidos.
The American pilot Seth Quintero, aged 23, will command the vehicle, with the Finnish Topi Luhtinen as co-pilot. Quintero participates in parallel in the World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) with support from Toyota. The automaker plans to initially register one car, but is evaluating the possibility of a second in selected stages.
- The GR Corolla RC2 competes in the RC2 class, equivalent to the international Rally2 level.
- The car maintains the 1.6 three-cylinder turbo engine from the street model, with all-wheel drive.
- The development incorporates technologies from the WRC2 title-winning GR Yaris Rally2.
Vehicle development
Toyota presented a rally concept based on the GR Corolla at Tokyo Auto Salon in January 2025.
Former WRC drivers such as Jari-Matti Latvala and Juho Hänninen took part in the tests. Seth Quintero also contributed to the adjustments, adapting the car to the characteristics of North American roads.
Toyota’s focus is on improving production vehicles through experiences in real competitions. Essa strategy aligns with the philosophy of creating better cars for driving enthusiasts.
The Corolla is back! 🚨
— DirtFish (@DirtFishRally)December 19, 2025
Toyota has developed a GR Corolla RC2 to compete in the ARA 🇺🇸pic.twitter.com/MQMUXKOkAB
History of the Corolla in the rally
The name Corolla has a tradition in world rallying. Hannu Mikkola beat 1000 Lakes Rally in 1975 with a 1970s version.
Toyota won the WRC manufacturers’ title in 1999 with the Corolla WRC. The brand withdrew from the category after this victory and returned in the late 2010s with the Yaris, which became dominant.
Now, Corolla returns to competition, but in the American championship, after more than 25 years of absence.
Team participation
Toyota operates the car with its own team, including in-house engineers and mechanics. Essa approach allows you to apply knowledge directly in development.
Quintero expressed excitement about the transition to short rally stages, unlike the long distances of W2RC. Ele highlights similarities in dynamic behavior between the GR Corolla RC2 and the Hilux used in raids.
The automaker takes advantage of the expertise accumulated in six manufacturer titles in the WRC since 2018.
Competition in the ARA
The ARA championship gains more competitiveness with the entry of Toyota. Subaru has maintained a consistent presence through its partnership with Vermont SportsCar for years.
Other brands, such as Mini and Honda, have increased their recent participation. The arrival of the GR Corolla RC2 could intensify disputes in the main class.
The return of the Corolla represents an opportunity for testing in North American conditions, where the street model is sold.
The Toyota Gazoo Racing reinforces its commitment to motorsport to evolve its series vehicles. Participation in ARA contributes to validating technologies on real Estados Unidos roads.
This initiative expands the brand’s efforts in national competitions. The project uses the GR Yaris Rally2 base, adapted to the Corolla chassis.
