Latvala, who usually serves as Toyota’s team principal, and Hussi, who is building her career as a co-driver, will hit the stages in the Lahti Historic Rally, which also serves as a round of the European Historic Rally Championship. The pair will be driving Latvala’s Toyota Celica (ST165).
Latvala has won the Lahti Historic Rally a remarkable seven times, and this year marks his tenth start in the event. Hussi, on the other hand, began her rally career in the very same event two years ago, when she learned the art of pace note reading alongside Sami Pajari.
The duo began their collaboration during the reconnaissance for the rally. They haven’t covered a single test kilometre in the actual rally car.
“The driver isn’t the easiest – there are quite a few pace note corrections. It’s not easy for the co-driver. But Janni hasn’t complained once. I take my hat off to her for managing so well with me,” Latvala remarked on the eve of the rally.
Hussi served as the co-driver for Lauri Joona in the WRC2 class up until the Rally Finland in early August. After the event, Hussi announced that she would no longer continue alongside Joona, but her career as a co-driver is set to continue.
Latvala, meanwhile, revealed in Lahti, Finland, on Thursday evening that he has a plan for Hussi.
“There are some elements in play here that might see new equipment brought into the European Historic Rally Championship next year. If that happens, I could enter with the ST185 model – the so-called Kankkunen-model Celica – which we’ve been building,” Latvala explained.
“I’ve already asked Janni about her schedule, so she might possibly come co-driving there if we end up competing in more European historic rallies.”
Latvala has previously stated that he would like to compete in the entire championship, but the situation is, at the very least, challenging.
“It would be great, but I’d have to negotiate a bit with my employer, as it would mean skipping a few WRC rallies,” Latvala laughed.
“They [in Japan] sometimes say, ‘Jari-Matti, why do you always have to drive? You need to work sometimes too,'” the Toyota boss added.
Before the two-day challenge in Lahti, Hussi has been diligently preparing. Latvala uses what is known as a numerical pace note system.
After the Finnish WRC round, Hussi borrowed Juho Hänninen’s notes. Hänninen co-drove for Latvala in Jyväskylä, where Latvala impressively finished second in the WRC2 class.
“I’ve been practising and reading from Juho’s notes to see how it feels. There were a couple of times when I almost got tongue-tied. But after a couple of days of work together during the recce, it’s coming together,” Hussi said confidently.
