The Celica GT-Four

The introduction of Group A regulations for four-wheel drive cars opened the way for Toyota to build one of the all-time great rally machines. The Celica GT-Four, code named ST165, was Toyota’s first full-time four-wheel rally car to compete in the World Rally Championship and had the distinction of providing Toyota with its first drivers’ championship title, claimed by Carlos Sainz in 1990.

There were many innovative features in the design and engineering of the GT-Four, including an X-Trac six-speed transmission. Toyota was fully committed to winning the WRC and engineers worked intensively on trouble-shooting early problems through to the middle of the 1989 season. Then came the breakthrough everyone was working for, with Carlos Sainz putting in an aggressive drive on the 1,000 Lakes to demonstrate just what this remarkable car was capable of. Its quality was sealed on the next event, Rally Australia, with Juha Kankkunen posting its maiden WRC victory.

In 1990 the GT-Four was consistently the class of the field. After claiming second place in the season-opener at Monte Carlo, it went on to win the Safari, Acropolis, New Zealand, 1,000 Lakes and RAC events. Carlos Sainz was champion driver and Toyota clinched second place in the manufacturers’ championship.

The season included a heroic fourth Safari Rally victory for Waldegard. Fifty-eight cars took the start, but just 10 made the finish, due to the extreme conditions with torrential rain on every day of the event. Moreover, Waldegard’s winning margin was an extraordinary 38 minutes over his nearest rival.

The base engine for the GT-four was Toyota’s 3S-GTE turbocharged 2.0-litre, four-cylinder DOHC unit, with output increased from 185 to 265bhp in line with Group A regulations. Key strengths included good acceleration response and torque delivery in low to mid-range, coupled to the traction and performance provided by the full-time four-wheel drive system.