Following the success of the Celica GT4 ST165, the Turbo 4WD ST185 would build on its predecessor's foundations and be the class of the field throughout its three years of service in the World Rally Championship (WRC).

It was the car to beat, scoring a hat trick of drivers' titles for Carlos Sainz, Juha Kankkunen and Didier Auriol respectively.

Of equal, if not greater, importance to the Japanese manufacturer was the fact that in 1993 the ST185 delivered Toyota its first ever WRC manufacturer's championship, a feat it repeated in 1994.

The all-conquering ST185 featured a stiffer bodyshell, improved cooling, an up-rated turbo intake system, X-Trac six-speed transmission and, most importantly, a suspension package that permitted a wide range of adjustment.

They were sometimes headed by other cars on unfavourable surfaces but the ST 185 Celica was, arguably, the best all-round package.

Until its exclusion from the series after 2002, the Safari was the toughest rally on the WRC calend...