Ryan Tuerck Replaced the Engine of This AWD Celica Rally Car with a 600-HP GR Corolla Engine.

      Ryan Tuerck via YouTube

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      Ryan Tuerck is well-versed in extreme engine swaps; he once fitted a Ferrari V8 into a Toyota GT86. The professional drifter's latest project stays within the Toyota lineage, equipping a 1994 Celica with the powertrain from the current GR Corolla along with a rally-optimized suspension. This endeavor has been in progress for a while but recently made its competitive debut at the FAT Ice Race.

      Referred to as the GT411, the Celica's construction is showcased in various videos on Tuerck’s YouTube channel. As Tuerck puts it, the aim was to create a “psycho rally car” reminiscent of the Celica GT-Four from the 1990s. While Tuerck owns a JDM GT-Four road car, he wanted to maintain it as a daily driver. Thus, the GT411 was developed from a USDM Celica GT that was stripped down to its corroded shell.

      Ryan Tuerck via YouTube

      In the U.S., the sixth-generation Celica was only offered with front-wheel drive, necessitating significant modifications to convert it into a rally car. The first step involved altering the floorpan, followed by the installation of a tubular rear subframe to accommodate an all-wheel drive drivetrain, which includes Wavetrac differentials linked to a Holinger sequential gearbox. A roll cage and carbon fiber body panels further transformed this previously overlooked street car into a rally-ready vehicle.

      The 1.6-liter turbo-three engine easily fits into the engine bay that formerly housed a four-cylinder. Instead of the GR Corolla’s 300 horsepower, the G16E engine produces 500 hp with low boost and 600 hp at maximum boost. This is attributed to a Garrett G30-770 turbo and custom exhaust header from Teixeira Fabrication, which handled most of the car's modifications. Additionally, the engine features Nitto Performance Engineering forged pistons and rods, Kelford Stage 2 camshafts, and a Supertech valvetrain.

      Celica GT4 – We Secured a Podium Finish in Our First Event!

      After approximately a year of development, the GT411 joined an impressive lineup of cars at the FAT Ice Race in Big Sky, Montana. Tuerck claimed second place in the car's debut event—a commendable achievement for a new build. And for those familiar with the World Rally Championship (WRC) footage from the 1990s, there’s a wave of nostalgia that’s hard to overlook.

      The Celica was a staple in the WRC during the 1990s, although the ST205 GT-Four, which shares a body with this car, is perhaps most famously associated with illegal turbo restrictors used in the 1995 season. Furthermore, if the latest teasers are anything to go by, a new iteration of the sporty coupe may be headed back to WRC events.