Sebastien Ogier won last weekend’s rally, with Elfyn Evans finishing second. In total, Toyota secured the maximum 60 championship points, immediately pulling far ahead of Hyundai in the manufacturers’ standings.
However, there was tension in the Toyota camp right until the very end. The conditions on the Power Stage were extremely challenging. The climb to Col de Turini started on dry asphalt, but the latter part of the stage was completely icy.
“It couldn’t have started any better than that. But yes, it was hard on the nerves,” admitted Toyota team principal Jari-Matti Latvala.
“Especially Sunday morning when we were thinking about the tyre choices. I think, in the end, it worked out well,” Latvala continued.
Adding to the drama was Elfyn Evans’ scary moment on the Power Stage. Evans briefly lost control of his car, and the outcome could have been disastrous for Toyota.
“Watching the fight when Adrien Fourmaux was pushing harder and harder against our guys, and then Elfyn’s moment on the last stage in Turini – I could already see in my mind that when the car started to slide, it would hit the wall and roll over to the other side of the road. It was awful, but luckily, it didn’t happen,” Latvala laughed, making Ogier and the other drivers sitting next to him burst into laughter.
Latvala’s imagined horror scenarios never materialised. According to him, a pessimist is never disappointed.
“Sometimes it’s better to imagine the worst and then experience the better things in life. But thanks to the guys, it was fantastic entertainment at the same time,” Latvala grinned.
