Lappi is likely to deputise for Ogier in the rounds he doesn't compete in as he ta🐽kes a step back from full-time rallying.

The team has confirmed Evans and Rovanperä will contest every ev💜ent next year.

WRC will embark on a new era in 2022 with the introduction of hybrid drivetrains, with the syst🌳em and the software governing its use will be standꦰardised for three years as a way of keeping the costs of competing down.

Lappi returns to the team after being part of Toyota’s inaugural ro🐈ster in 2017, wℱinning Rally Finland.

In 2018, Lappi’s performances helped Toyota to win the manufacturers’ c🔯hampion𒁏ship.

Speaking of the announcement, Lappi said: “I am very, very happy to be returning to the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing team. It feels like I’m coming home. I have some grea♊t memories from the past and it was really nice to work with people from the team again at Rally Finland.

“As soon as I got back into the Yaris WRC, it felt again lik𝔍e this was my car. Of course, for next year we will have a new car and although I have not driven it yet, it seems ♛like it will be very different with the new regulations. But it will be interesting to be a part of it and I’m very excited about the future.”

Team▨ principal Jari-Matti Latvala is confident Toyota's ne💛w line-up will be successful in 2022.

“I am very haꦐppy to have such a strong line-up of drivers heading into 2022 and an exciting new era for the WRC,” he added. “It’s very nice to have Elfyn and Kalle continuing with us as drivers who can fight for the championship. Elfyn is a really consistent driver, always helping to get the points for the team towards the championship, but as he proved with his victory on Rally Finland, he’s also absolutely one of the fastest drivers and definitely one of the contenders to win the title.

“We have seen really great performances from Kalle this year. He is developing all the time and as he gains more and more experience, he can also become a strong contender for championships. S🍎eb is a great champion and he will be really valuable for us again next season, even though he will no longer be targ🀅eting the drivers’ title for himself.

“Finally, I’m delighted to bring Esapekka back into the team. He proved with us before that he can win, and since then I think he has been growing a lot. His motivation is very high, and he showed ওhis speed on his return last weekend. I believe he is the perfect driver to share the seat with Seb, to help us in the championship but also be there to figh𝕴t for victories himself.”