WRC 2
Gill rebuilds WRC hopes with targeted 2026 programme
Taylor Gill is working to piece together a WRC2 programme for 2026, with a trio of familiar events targeted as he looks to put himself in the shop window ahead of the sport’s next regulation cycle.
The Australian has endured a challenging few months since narrowly missing out on the FIA Junior WRC title at Central European Rally. Despite winning two of five rounds in 2025 and finishing on the podium at every rally, Gill and co-driver Daniel Brkíc were pipped to the crown by just 1.6sec on the very last stage – with Sweden’s Mille Johansson walking away with the title and the WRC2 prize drive.
With no automatic pathway now available, Gill has been forced to rebuild from the ground up, balancing full-time work with an intensive sponsorship push to keep his WRC ambitions alive.
“It hasn’t been easy since Central Europe,” Gill admitted. “It’s been about trying to figure out a plan for next year and what that could realistically look like. We haven’t given up on the dream of racing in the World Rally Championship, but things definitely got tougher after missing out on the Junior WRC title.
“When you’re effectively starting from zero, it’s difficult even to get a programme off the ground. So it’s about opening opportunities, building sponsors and slowly putting together enough budget to get some rallies done next year.
“Monday to Wednesday I work as a mechanic in a regular repair shop,” he continued. “Thursdays, Fridays and evenings are spent on the phone, sending emails, building proposals and chasing sponsors. It’s busy, but now that this opportunity is there, we’re pushing absolutely flat out to make it happen.”
Gill has been linked with a privately run Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 programme comprising three events in WRC2: Rally Sweden, Croatia Rally and Rally Finland - a surface-diverse selection designed to showcase adaptability and immediate pace.
“The plan would be three rallies,” he said. “They’re all rallies I know well – ones I’ve done twice before, and I’ve won [my category on] all three once already. There’s a method to it too: snow, gravel and Tarmac, to show speed on different surfaces.
“Sweden is a good place to start because it’s relatively cost-effective and the snowbanks give you confidence to really lean on the car. Because we’re only likely to do a small number of rallies, we don’t have time to ease into a season. We need to make an impression straight away.”
Any outing would also mark Gill’s first competitive appearance in Rally2 machinery - a significant step, both technically and financially.
© WRC
“The jump from Rally3 to Rally2 is huge,” he added. “Damage costs escalate very quickly, so that’s something we’ll have to manage carefully.”
Beyond short-term results, Gill is clear about the bigger picture, with a new regulation cycle for the sport’s top tier in 2027 firmly in mind as the next major opportunity window.
“That’s a big reason why we’re pushing so hard to make something happen next year. We want to stay current and put ourselves in the shop window for 2027. We’re not expecting to fight for the WRC2 title with such a limited programme, but a strong impression can open doors.
“We are pretty much over the line with the budget to start in Sweden," Gill revealed. “Beyond that, things are still pretty up in the air. Croatia comes quickly, and realistically there’s still a fair chunk to find.”
