Toyota Celica GT-Four ST205 WRC

Toyota Celica GT-Four ST205 WRC

The Toyota Celica GT-Four ST205 is one of the most technically sophisticated homologation specials ever produced by a Japanese manufacturer. Built to meet the FIA's requirements for World Rally Championship Group A competition, the ST205 represented the pinnacle of the Celica platform and the ultimate expression of Toyota's commitment to rallying during the golden age of the WRC in the mid-1990s.

At the heart of the ST205 sat the 3S-GTE engine, a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four that had been the backbone of Toyota's turbocharged performance cars since the late 1980s. In ST205 form, it was fitted with a CT20B ceramic ball-bearing turbocharger that reduced spool time dramatically compared to earlier journal-bearing units. Output was rated at 255 horsepower and 228 lb-ft of torque in Japanese-market trim, though these figures were widely believed to be conservative — independent dyno tests regularly showed higher numbers. The engine featured Toyota's variable valve timing and a water-to-air intercooler mounted atop the engine, a layout chosen for its compactness and the short intake path it provided.

The all-wheel-drive system was the ST205's party piece. Unlike simpler viscous-coupling AWD systems found in many of its contemporaries, the GT-Four used a Super Strut suspension design at the front — a sophisticated geometry that minimized torque steer and camber change during cornering, critical for a high-powered AWD car with significant front weight bias. The center differential distributed torque to all four wheels through a viscous coupling, while a limited-slip differential managed rear axle torque distribution. This combination gave the GT-Four remarkable traction in all conditions and a neutral handling balance that belied its front-heavy layout.

The ST205's rally credentials were demonstrated at the highest level of the sport. Toyota Team Europe campaigned the Celica GT-Four in the 1994 and 1995 WRC seasons, with drivers including Juha Kankkunen, Didier Auriol, and Carlos Sainz scoring victories. However, the program was marred by controversy when an illegal intake restrictor plate was discovered on the car after the 1995 Rally Catalunya, leading to Toyota's disqualification from the manufacturers' championship and a one-year ban from the WRC. This scandal overshadowed the genuine engineering excellence of the road car.

The road-going ST205 was a thrilling machine in its own right. The combination of 255 horsepower, full-time AWD, and a curb weight of just 1,390 kilograms created a car that was devastatingly fast on twisty roads, particularly in wet or loose conditions where the AWD system gave it a massive advantage over rear-wheel-drive rivals. The steering was communicative, the chassis was balanced, and the 3S-GTE engine produced a characteristically gruff four-cylinder turbo soundtrack that built to a crescendo as the boost built.

Several special variants enhanced the ST205's appeal. The WRC edition featured a larger rear wing, additional cooling ducts, and motorsport-derived components. The Cruising Selection, conversely, offered a more luxury-oriented specification with leather seats and additional sound insulation. Japanese domestic market cars received the Super Strut suspension as standard, while some export markets received a conventional strut setup.

Today, the ST205 GT-Four occupies an unusual position in the collector market. The WRC scandal somewhat dampened the car's reputation in period, and the Celica nameplate never carried the same weight as the Skyline GT-R or Supra in enthusiast circles. However, as the market for 1990s Japanese performance cars has matured, the GT-Four has been reappraised. Its combination of rally heritage, sophisticated AWD system, potent turbocharged engine, and relative rarity make it an increasingly desirable collectible. Clean, unmodified examples are becoming genuinely scarce, and prices have risen accordingly.

The ST205 was the last turbocharged, AWD Celica. When Toyota redesigned the Celica for the seventh generation (ZZT230), the GT-Four model was discontinued, ending one of the most exciting chapters in Toyota's road car history.