Latvala steered his historic-classified Toyota Celica to eighth place in the overall competition. The goal was achieved, but there was still something left to be desired. Latvala aimed for a clean performance over the weekend, as the race in Rovaniemi has always caused him headaches in the past.
A year ago, a gearbox issue cost him time, and in 2022, the race was cut short due to an engine failure. At the start of his career in the 2006 season, Latvala’s Tunturiralli ended in a crash while driving a Toyota Corolla WRC.
“The season has started and here in Arctic Rally and our target was to be in top ten. Eventually we were eight. We got just got some issues at the very end. We were fighting actually for the sixth position, but we started misfiring and we couldn’t sort it out,” Latvala said.
“So the last stage we were running with three cylinders, but to be a strong car to bring us back here, that’s the, that’s the main thing.”
Latvala showed his disappointment at the finish of the final special stage. Without the engine misfire issue, he could have overtaken Mikko Eskelinen and Niclas Grönholm to secure sixth place.
“I really enjoyed it, even though I was a bit angry on the final stage. Sometimes, you have to show your emotions—that’s part of the game,” Latvala told.
Despite everything, Latvala once again demonstrated his driving skills by pushing his old warhorse to top times. Many drivers with modern machinery had to concede defeat to the former WRC driver. Next, Latvala sets his sights on the European Historic Rally Championship, which kicks off with the Costa Brava Rally in mid-March in Spain.
“I think that is that is one of the nice things with with an old Celica is actually to see when you’re pushing it to the limits, how how close you can get to the modern cars. And I think that is one of the elements which I enjoy,” Latvala summarized.
“This year we’re going to go to the European Championship historic championship, where you are belong with the other cars. So it’s going to be very interesting to see the level where we can be this year. I think this is a nice story to start here in Arctic with the Celica for the season.”
Tunturiralli was, overall, a very important event for the Toyota team. Kalle Rovanperä tested Hankook’s new winter tyre in the Arctic Circle.
“We had Rovanperä here and this was an important rally for the team to get the experience of the new Hankook tires for the winter conditions in Sweden. So there were many things and at the same time, I could drive myself. I was discussing with Kalle and he was driving in front of me on Friday, and then he was driving behind me on Saturday,” Latvala said.
“So we had time to discuss and this is the best time. You have more time to discuss with your driver about the things with the car and about, what we need to improve for the future.”
