Corolla brings further success

From 1996 Toyota developed the Corolla to take on the role of its WRC challenger, the car making its debut on the Rally of Indonesia and scoring its first win on the Rally of Canberra. In 1997, it began its WRC campaign on Rally Finland, marking Toyota Castrol Team’s return to front-line competition after an absence of more than a year-and-a-half.

In spite of being forced to join the championship earlier than it hoped, the team was buoyed by Marcus Gronholm leading the event in its early stages. Just three events later, at Rally Australia, Auriol took the Corolla to its first podium with a third place finish and in the opening event of the 1998 season, the Monte Carlo Rally, Carlos Sainz powered the car to an emphatic maiden victory.

Sainz and Toyota were runners-up in drivers’ and manufacturers’ championships respectively in 1998, but the following year Toyota was again the sport’s number one manufacturer. This season marked the end of Toyota’s official involvement in the rallying, although privately-entered Toyota models have continued to compete and win in events around the world.