Deputy team principal Juha Kankkunen will drive internal combustion engined-car on Harju city stage
Photography by Toyota
Words by Mark Paulson
Toyota has taken the next step towards hydrogen-fueled rallying at the sport’s top level by launching a GR Yaris Rally2 H2 Concept car.
The hydrogen-powered car is set to be demonstrated on stage at Rally Finland which starts on July 31. It is based on a second-tier GR Yaris Rally2 fitted with an internal combustion engine fuelled by compressed hydrogen – a concept that delivers lowered emissions while retaining the characteristics of a traditional internal combustion engine, including engine sound.
Toyota has been developing hydrogen power in rallying for several years. It has competed with a hydrogen-fuelled Corolla in Japan in the Super Taikyu circuit racing series, including with WRC team principal Jari-Matti Latvala at the wheel.
It then developed the experimental GR Yaris H2, based on a road car, which was demonstrated by Akio Toyoda and Juha Kankkunen at the Ypres Rally in 2022.
The latest concept car has been developed by the Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team at its base in Jyväskylä and tested on local roads.
It will be demonstrated on the mixed-surface Harju stage that opens Rally Finland – and its second pass on Friday evening – by Kankkunen, Toyota’s deputy team principal, before remaining on display in the Rally Finland service park.
Tags: hydrogen power, Juha Kankkunen, Rally Finland 2025, Toyota Gazoo Racing, Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 H2 Concept, WRC
Publish Date July 8, 2025 DirtFish
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