Toyota Celica Coupe GT-TS, TwinCam Turbo Group B Rally Car
In Group B of the World Rally Championship (WRC), introduced at the beginning of the 1980s, there were few restrictions imposed on the technical construction of the cars.
Audi for instance, brought four-wheel drive to the arena. For this Celica GT-TS Toyota opted for more conventional technology: rear-wheel drive, rear axle with leaf springs and an engine with two valves per cylinder. However, the engine was tuned for serious performance – 370 hp as opposed to the standard 180 – and fitted with fuel injection and a turbocharger. It was in the long-distance rallies that the Toyota fulfilled its potential. In this actual car works driver Björn Waldegård won the Rallye Côte d’Ivoire in 1983 and came first in the Safari Rally a year later. In 1986, the last year of Group B, Waldegård won both events in this car. Drivers such as Waldegård, Kankkunen, Eklund and Torph drove the Celica GT-TS to 13 podium places in 16 rallies, including six wins.