With its second consecutive Rally de Portugal victory, TGR-WRT repeats the maximum score they achieved in last year’s rally. It is also the fourth time in a row that the team has won in Portugal.


Rovanperä built these results on his strong opening day performance while running second in the road order on the loose gravel stages. He led by 10.8 seconds at the end of the day, with his stunning speed on day two then allowing him to move over 50s clear. 


By the end of the third day, the team continued its winning streak by achieving another victory in the final Power Stage, setting the quickest time by 0.717s and sealing the rally victory by 54.7s.


Akio Toyoda, TGR-WRT Chairman, commented: “Kalle, Jonne, congratulations on your first victory this year! I could see that Kalle was enjoying driving just as much as he did last year. This victory is a wonderful way to celebrate Mother’s Day, and it will allow him to truly relish the experience of drifting at Japan’s Ebisu circuit. When he joins Formula Drift Japan next week, he will showcase another impressive display of his driving skills to his Japanese fans. In the two weeks leading up to the next rally in Sardinia, Kalle will be drifting with the GR Corolla in Fukushima, Japan, and Jari-Matti will be driving the GR Corolla in the 24-hour endurance race at Fuji Speedway. I am delighted that the team continues to enjoy their time racing with Toyota around the world, not just during rally weeks. As we enter the middle stages of the WRC season, we will continue to savor the experience of driving Toyota vehicles and strive for the best possible results."


Over the years, Toyota has been participating in many different forms of motorsports, including Formula One, the World Endurance Championship (WEC), and the Nürburgring 24 ‎Hours endurance race. Toyota’s participation in these events was overseen by separate entities within the company until April 2015, when Toyota established TGR, ‎to consolidate all of its motorsports activities under one in-house brand. Representing ‎Toyota’s belief that ‘the roads build the people, and the people build the cars,’ TGR highlights the role of motorsports as a fundamental pillar of Toyota’s commitment to ‎making ‘ever-better’ cars. Harnessing years of experience gained under the extreme conditions of various motorsports events, TGR aims to forge new technologies and solutions that bring the freedom, adventure, and joy of driving to everyone.


The sixth round of the 2023 FIA WRC is Rally Italia Sardegna, which will take place from June 1-4 June.


Race Notes:
• No. 69 GR YARIS Rally1 Hybrid Electric Vehicle (Kalle Rovanperä and Jonne Halttunen)
o Position: 1st 
o Time: 3h35m11.7s