Toyota expecting a ‘demanding’ end to 2026 WRC season

Toyota are expecting to endure a ‘demanding’ second half of the season as they look to strengthen their defence of their manufacturer’s title.

Feature image credit: Jaanus Ree // Red Bull Content Pool

Toyota remain the dominant force in the World Rally Championship, and 2026 has been no exception to that rule. They remain the championship leaders after a near-inpenetrable run of form in the first half of the season.

After seven rounds of the world championship, Toyota have won all but one event, losing out to Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville at the Rally de Portugal in May.

However, after a season of mixed road surfaces, all of the remaining seven rounds are set to be held on gravel conditions, spanning from Greece up until Saudi Arabia, in November. A succession which Toyota’s Deputy Team Principal, Juha Kankkunen, believes will provide a demanding end to the year.  He said:

“We have had quite a strong season so far, but the second half of the year will also be demanding with so many gravel rallies to come, each one with its own challenges.

“Coming back onto gravel, I expect the competition will be much closer like we saw in Portugal. It will be a tough rally, especially with all five of our cars at the front of the running order, but our team is strong and our drivers are strong.”

2026 Acropolis Rally Greece: The full WRC stage guide and times

As Toyota currently hold a top-five position in the standings, with Eflyn Evans leading out front ahead of the remaining four drivers, who round out the top five, it means the team will be disadvantaged going into the gravel events.

The first runners of the gravel events will essentially be road sweepers as the first pass cleans and sweeps the road, providing better conditions for those behind.

Looking ahead at the upcoming Greek rally, Kankkunen claims an important factor of the rally is to play it smart, as it could be beneficial in the long run. He said:

“The Acropolis Rally has always been one of the toughest events in the WRC. It was in my day when I was driving, and it remains the case today, even if it’s driven at much higher speeds now. It’s still a rally where anything can happen, and where it can pay to be smart.”

The Acropolis Rally Greece will get underway next weekend, on June 25-28.

Read more WRC here:

• Acropolis Rally Greece: the latest WRC weather forecast
• Ogier looking forward to Rally Greece challenge with new base
• Elfyn Evans believes the rally championship remains ‘very open’
• FIA conclude Candidate Rally US event for 2027 calendar bid
• 2026 Acropolis Rally Greece: The full WRC stage guide and times
• Fourmaux aiming for win to get Hyundai title bid back on
• More than Machine success increases WRC profile
• Kalle Rovanpera cleared to race again after medical pause

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Kamron Kent

Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.

I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.

Kamron Kent

Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.