The brand-new GR Yaris Rally Cup continues to gain momentum ahead of its 2027 debut, confirming that two examples of the purpose-built GR Yaris Rally Cup cars have now been sold to new competitors.
Meanwhile, organisers have confirmed that a multiple New Zealand Champion will take the wheel at the upcoming Barry Robinson Memorial Rally Southland on 17-18 July.
Launched earlier this year, the GR Yaris Rally Cup will tackle the stages of the New Zealand Rally Championship next year and is positioned as a key part of the ladder between junior categories and the sport’s top levels – both domestically and beyond.
The first car has already hit the stages this year, as interest in the category grows and the program develops ahead of the full championship launching next year.
Two exciting newcomers, Southland’s Carter Strang and Tararua’s William Menzies, have both purchased vehicles ahead of a full 2027 NZRC championship campaign – though both will debut them in action later this season.
Strang will be in action at his home event in Southland in June, while Menzies will make his GR Yaris Rally Cup debut at Rally Hawkes Bay on 21-22 August. Strang steps into the GR Yaris after gaining experience aboard a Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 10, while Menzies steps up from an EVO 6.
Meanwhile, four-time NZRC champion Ben Hunt will make a guest appearance in the existing FORCE Motorsport GR Yaris Rally Cup demonstration vehicle in the Southland event this June.
He will be the second well-credentialled driver to taste-test the new car, following in the footsteps of racing legend and Dakar Winner Toby Price, who put the car through its paces recently at the Central Machine Hire Rally Otago.
Price finished a strong 15th outright (from 148 cars) in the Otago event, showcasing the car’s performance potential despite his relative inexperience in the sport.
Hunt’s experience will add another voice to the team behind the car and categories as it develops the car ahead of forming its own championship within the NZRC next year.
Deliveries of the two new vehicles will take place in the coming weeks, while several additional vehicles are being built at FORCE Motorsport as interest continues to grow in the category’s formal competition debut next year.
“There is significant interest in GR Yaris Rally Cup; many current and past competitors have reached out for more information on the cars and the series,” said Tony McConachy, who coordinates the GR Yaris Rally Cup via Rally Race Group (R2G).
“We are excited to see William and Carter take delivery of their cars, and their interest in the category is exactly what we had hoped to draw – drivers of all walks of life on the pathway up the system looking for the next place to race.
“The GR Yaris Rally Cup is designed to fill the gap between competing in a production-based car, like an EVO, and the more extreme machines that are at the outright end of the field or in key international categories in Australia, Europe or the WRC.
“They are both exciting talents, and we can’t wait to see what they can achieve in their new cars.”
Fellow series coordinator Paul Fallon said the addition of Hunt to the program was another bonus.
“Ben’s story mirrors the ethos of the category as he came via the Rally New Zealand Rising Stars program back in 2009 before winning the championship on four occasions.
“He and his co-driver, Tony Rawstorne, have an enormous amount of experience and successes in production-based, Group N machinery, which is not dissimilar to the GR Yaris Rally Cup Car.
“Ben has test-driven the car already and offered positive feedback and direction on fine-tuning ahead of the Southland event. Having experienced drivers in the car will only help make the series beneficial for young drivers – they’ll have access to the data and information as we continuously evolve and improve the package.”
Interest in the new car has been high, especially following Price’s impressive performance at Rally Otago, with organisers excited to see two cars in action for the first time when the championship heads to Invercargill in two weeks’ time.
The GR Yaris Rally Cup team will be on site to field inquiries from competitors and spectators.
Endorsed by Toyota GAZOO Racing New Zealand, the GR Yaris Rally Cup cars are built by FORCE Motorsport at their Auckland-based fabrication workshop, with cars sold as a turn-key package ready for gravel; however, they come with a tarmac change-over kit. The championship is managed by R2G.
For more information about the category, search for ‘GR Yaris Rally Cup NZ’ on social media platforms.
Header Image: Shots By TayB/Tayler Burke
