Toyota reveals GR Yaris ‘Sébastien Ogier 9x World Champion’ edition at Monte Carlo rally

Toyota has kickstarted this year’s FIA World Rally Championship at the Rallye Monte Carlo by unveiling a limited-run version of its GR Yaris.

The car has been developed by the team at Toyota Gazoo Racing and Ogier himself, with this bespoke model featuring a new ‘SEB’ mode, replacing the old car’s ‘Track’ setting, which sends a 40:60 torque split to the front and rear wheels, while ‘Gravel’ has been replaced with a ‘Morizo’ function, developed by Toyota’s chairman, Akio Toyoda, to ensure maximum traction and cornering performance.

Inside, there is a vertical handbrake, a rally-inspired steering wheel, red, blue and grey stitching found on the seats and wheel itself, while all cars get a bespoke numbered plaque.

Under the bonnet, the car uses the same 1.6-litre three-cylinder turbocharged unit found in the standard car, which produces 276bhp and 390Nm of torque. It can hit 60mph in five seconds and will reach an electronically-limited top speed of 143mph.

Toyota has not revealed prices for this exclusive model at this stage, and it’s unclear how many are destined for the UK market.