Working as the team principal for Toyota in the World Rally Championship, Latvala has not fully retired from rallying. He has competed irregularly in historic-class Toyota Celicas both domestically and occasionally abroad.
Last winter, Latvala participated in the Arctic Lapland Rally and his home competition, the SM Tuuri Ralli. In Tuuri, he attempted to have a new rally car ready for use, but time ran out.
“I was supposed to have another car ready, but it just didn’t get finished in time for this rally,” Latvala told RallyJournal.com at the time.
Now, that “beauty” is ready. This week, Latvala posted a video on social media of his new Toyota Celica (ST185), which has received a quite legendary livery.
Toyota’s factory team competed with similar cars in the World Rally Championship from 1992 to 1994. Carlos Sainz won the world championship with the car in 1992, Juha Kankkunen in 1993, and Didier Auriol in 1994.
It remains to be seen whether Latvala will participate in the upcoming SM Pohjanmaa Ralli in mid-June with his new car.
“I would like to race in the Pohjanmaa Ralli, and it fits well into the schedule,” Latvala mentioned in early March before the SM Tuuri Ralli.
