Toyota MR2 222D: The Rally Legend That Never Had Its Chance

Silent Predator - The history of rallying is packed with legends—cars, drivers, and moments that defined generations of motorsport fans. But sometimes, it’s the stories of what didn’t happen that captivate us even more. For every championship win or record-breaking performance, there are vehicles that almost made it to glory but were stopped just short of writing their names in history. Among these rare machines, none perhaps evokes as much curiosity and imagination as the Toyota MR2 222D—a fire-breathing rally prototype built for a series that never saw the light of day.

The Toyota MR2 222D, a wild Group S rally prototype developed by Toyota Team Europe alongside a one-make MR2 racing series in the UK and USA, never saw competition due to the cancellation of Group S, but its 600bhp, four-wheel-drive design cemented the MR2’s performance reputation. (Picture from: Mag.Toyota.co.uk)

Toyota’s rally journey began in the late 1950s and steadily grew in ambition through the decades. By the 1980s, they weren’t just participating—they were aiming to dominate. The Corolla scored wins in WRC events, and the manufacturer had carved a name for itself with tough, turbocharged machines. Their cars were gritty, successful, and relentlessly engineered. But behind the scenes at Toyota Team Europe (TTE), something far more radical was being built—not just an evolution, but a revolution in rally car design.

This rare black Toyota MR2 222D prototype, preserved at Toyota Motorsport GmbH in Cologne, Germany, showcases the raw, aggressive lines of a rally monster that never got its chance to race. A glimpse into what might have dominated the Group S era. (Picture from: CarThrottle)

That car was the MR2 222D. Designed for the mysterious and never-implemented Group S rally category, the 222D was based loosely on the first-generation Toyota MR2, although calling it a “based on” car is a bit of a stretch. Aside from the general shape of the body panels, the 222D shared virtually nothing with the road car. Beneath its aggressive silhouette lay a lightweight space-frame chassis, a mid-mounted engine, and all the firepower Toyota could cram in.

The Toyota MR2 222D’s interior is a bare-bones rally cockpit, fitted with analog gauges, a racing wheel, bucket seats, and exposed controls. (Picture from: Petrolicious)

The numbers were stunning even by today’s standards. Powered by the 2140cc 503E engine—a turbocharged monster later found in Toyota’s Le Mans cars—the 222D could deliver up to 600 horsepower. All of this in a package that weighed just 750 kilograms. On paper, it had the makings of a champion. With further refinement, it might’ve gone toe-to-toe with the titans of rallying like the Peugeot 205 T16 or the Lancia Delta S4. But fate, as it often does in motorsport, had other plans.

The Toyota MR2 222D featured a lightweight space-frame chassis, a mid-mounted engine, and all the firepower Toyota could pack beneath its aggressive silhouette. (Picture from: Mag.Toyota.co.uk)

The demise of Group B in 1986, following a string of deadly accidents, left Group S stillborn. Group S was supposed to be the next step—a safer, more regulated, yet still incredibly fast series. But with no clear technical guidelines and growing concerns about safety, the FIA never made it past the planning stage. The 222D, born to race under rules that never came, was left without a stage.

The Toyota MR2 222D, powered by the 2140cc 503E turbocharged engine later used in Toyota’s Le Mans cars, delivered up to 600 horsepower in a chassis weighing just 750 kilograms. (Picture from: Petrolicious)

Despite being an abandoned prototype, the 222D wasn’t entirely forgotten. Two versions were developed by Toyota: an all-wheel-drive variant designed with help from transmission specialists Xtrac, and a rear-wheel-drive version with a more straightforward setup. The AWD version, finished in black, was built for loose gravel stages, while the white-painted RWD version was designed for tarmac. Both variants showcased Toyota’s commitment to development, preparing for every possibility despite the uncertainty of future regulations.

The Toyota MR2 222D, developed with the turbocharged 503E engine, showed promise but was shelved when Group B was cancelled in 1986. (Picture from: Mag.Toyota.co.uk)

But raw power without control is a recipe for trouble, and that’s exactly what plagued the 222D. According to John Day, one of the few who’s driven and maintained the surviving models, the car is nearly undriveable. It suffers from extreme turbo lag, unpredictable handling, and limited suspension travel—not ideal for rallying, where quick responses and terrain adaptability are everything. At the time, turbo technology wasn’t refined enough to overcome these flaws. Toyota wasn’t alone in this struggle—Lancia even added a supercharger to their S4 to cope with similar lag issues.

Displayed at the Toyota Mega Web showroom in Tokyo, Japan, this white Toyota MR2 222D prototype stands as a striking reminder of Toyota’s bold rally ambitions, frozen in time before they could be unleashed. (Picture from: Mag.Toyota.co.uk)

Then there was the problem of parts. As an R&D project, the 222D was never meant for mass production. Only eleven were built, and due to tax laws in Japan, most were ordered to be destroyed. A few visionary engineers, however, saw the car’s historical value and quietly hid away three of them. Today, just one of those cars remains fully operational. But keeping it alive isn’t easy. Many of its parts are unique, and no longer manufactured. Even something as simple as a fuel pump malfunction can cause catastrophic consequences.

The Toyota MR2 222D, a 750bhp rally machine built with the potential to dominate the stages, never had the chance to prove itself as fate stepped in and brought its journey to an abrupt halt. (Picture from: Mag.Toyota.co.uk)

Still, the 222D has made rare appearances, such as at the Goodwood Festival of Speed and the Eifel Rally Festival, where fans get a glimpse of what might have been. With enormous rear tires, wide bodywork, and exhaust pipes winding like a sculpture around its midsection, the 222D looks more like a Le Mans prototype than a rally car. It’s an extraordinary sight—both beautiful and brutal.

The Toyota MR2 222D’s rear showcases a wide stance, large vents, and a bold wing, all emphasizing its purpose-built rally design. (Picture from: Mag.Toyota.co.uk)

It’s tempting to imagine an alternate timeline. One where the Group S rules were finalized, where Toyota brought the 222D to Monte Carlo in 1988, and where legends like Juha Kankkunen or Björn Waldegård guided it to championship glory. If that had happened, the MR2 222D might now be remembered as one of the greatest rally cars ever made. | gM7bIx-iu-o |

But instead, it sits in a special category of motorsport lore—a machine full of potential, brilliance, and bold ambition, but also marred by the limits of its time and the uncertainty of its purpose. The MR2 222D was built for a race that never ran, for a series that never existed, and for a legacy that was never fully written. And perhaps that’s why it still fascinates us—because sometimes, the greatest legends are the ones we never got to see. *** [FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | MAG.TOYOTA.CO.UK | PETROLICIOUS | CARTHROTTLE | EVO.CO.UK | AUTOEVOLUTION ]

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